First, let me make a confession. This is a reflection on my lack of understanding and impatience.
In 2020, the baseball team I was on had a foreign pitcher, Mike Wright. He was a ‘fun guy’ who danced to cheering songs and energized his teammates in the dugout. However, when he was unable to control the pitch on the day he took the mound, his emotions rose. The back of his neck became red, and he put his glove to his mouth and shouted. He walked around the mound to cool off, and he even drew a picture of a smiley face next to the pitcher’s plate. At times like that, people would say, “It will collapse soon.” Some even said, “They do it that way because they don’t respect Korean baseball.”
I was frustrated too. I was anxious and had an interview. While listening to the story, I said, “If you do that, you will look weak and the other person will look down on you.” Confused, he said, “I want to pretend like nothing’s happened, but there are days when I can’t. I learned from a counselor in the United States to let go of my anger and change the mood for a while, even if only briefly. So what should I do?” I remember that his voice was trembling.
He was using his own method of controlling his emotions. He wasn’t successful every time. However, with the help of a counselor and mental coach, I was aware of my condition. He was trying. However, I asked to meet to see if there was anything I could help with, but ended up evaluating him. ‘It looks weak.’ I was ashamed of myself for being hasty, and I felt sorry for the player. At the time, I thought it was a difference from Western culture. Unlike us who emphasize casualness, I thought we would express our emotions right away. Over time, I learned that there are many ways to feel, acknowledge, and control emotions. I also realized that I was more accustomed to suppressing and repressing negative emotions, and that I had been trained to do so.메이저사이트
What made me think of Wright was watching Novak Djokovic (36), who recently won the US Open men’s singles tennis championship. With this win, Djokovic sets the record for the most singles wins (24) in a major tournament for the first time in professional tennis history. With rivals like Federer and Nadal leaving the field, Djokovic is still alive and well, like the ‘longest-lasting battery.’ When I watch him play tennis, he often gets angry and breaks his racket. Although he often gets angry, he is evaluated as a player with the best mentality.
Djokovic confesses that the fear of war in his childhood drove him to win the game. But he also realized that if he didn’t control his anger, he wouldn’t be able to grow any further. He reached his peak prowess after beginning mindfulness meditation training in 2010. The photo shows Djokovic meditating with his eyes closed during the game. Photo = ATP
We often say that ‘being excited ruins the game (presentation, report, conversation, relationship…).’ It’s not wrong. However, the human mind cannot always be like a calm lake. I also tend to get angry and nervous often. How about you? Being excited can be natural. Because that is also who you are. How you accept it allows you to move on and accomplish your task.
Meditation played a big part in helping Djokovic erase the label of second-biggest player in his later years. Mindfulness appears frequently in his interviews. Beomjin Kim, CEO of Now Coaching and a meditation expert, explains, “Mindfulness meditation is different from focusing on a single topic or concept. It begins with deeply observing the changing patterns and numerous phenomena of incoming and outgoing thoughts and emotions.” The core of mindfulness is to understand and let go of what changes are occurring within you through observation. CEO Kim explains, “It’s not about attaching myself to my heart, but de-identifying with it.” It is not ‘I = anger = emotion’. I am something bigger.
To achieve this, it is a good idea to create your own ritual. Yelling and writing things down also release pressure from the body. Djokovic is known to use time to go to the bathroom during matches and uses mind control by looking in the mirror. It’s actually among his 10 routines featured on the BBC.
Another way is to give a name to a specific emotion. It allows you to detach from yourself and your emotions. Through observation and training, you will become aware of it from the moment it smokes, rather than after it starts burning in your mind. Of course, there are rituals that are difficult to do in teams and groups. You also need understanding and consideration from those around you. I also have to contact Wright and say I’m sorry at that time.
Korea Coach Association certified coach Jong-moon Kim coachjmoon Gmail
Jong-moon Kim is a former reporter for the JoongAng Ilbo and worked as the front desk for the NC Dinos baseball team from 2011 to 2021. At the end of 2018, he took over as general manager of the ‘last place’ team and led it to its first winning team two years later. He is currently a Korea Coaches Association Certified Coach (KPC).