“Lesson #1: Don’t Think.”

Maybe I’m the only one that gets the reference, but the lesson is important for everyone. The quote is from a famous scene in Bull Durham as the veteran catcher offers a piece of advice to the million dollar rookie pitcher. Throughout the film, Crash Davis (the catcher), takes the role as mentor for the immature rookie (the pitcher).

“I’m Crash Davis and I’m your new catcher. You just got lesson number one: Don’t think. You can only hurt the ball club.”

Those are the famous lines that Crash offers Ebby Calvin, who has all the talent in the world but his own mind gets in the way of his best performances. Can you relate? Do you find yourself paralyzed by your own mind?

The mind is a powerful tool. Yet, it can be our greatest enemy if not used properly. I can’t tell you how many people I see getting in their own way. When we over-think, we can’t act. Quite simply, many of us spend a great deal of time analyzing and not much time doing.

You can spend hours, days, weeks, and even months trying to figure out how you feel about something, what it means, what could be, and so on. In the meantime, you’ve accomplished nothing. And worse yet, those that take action are that much further ahead.

Don’t think. Just show up.

 

Logan Gelbrich