When the snake bites you, chasing after it or running for help makes your heart pump more blood. This is bad and gets people into trouble. Because it makes the problem worse. Venom travels through your bloodstream to more of the body. More venom in more areas = more problems.

When the snake bites, plan to get the venom out as quickly as you can. And remain calm to keep it local in the body. The worst thing you can do is turn a local problem into a global one.

Here’s the transition to hockey…

When players make a mistake, sometimes it’s all they think about. Be it be from bad programming at school(every mistake is pointed out in red ink), poor parenting or coach’s that create pressure instead of permission…

Players ruminate on mistakes. They turn a local(no big deal) problem into a global (my career is over because of that one turnover) problem.

How do we avoid the disaster of catastrophizing? We need a tool. And a mindset shift.

Mistakes are the starting point.

It is the choice you make next that puts you on the path to learning from it or being derailed by it. Stop right now and think about what you say to yourself when you make a mistake.

What is your inner voice telling you?

How can you be better because of it?

And what is the next best action you can take?