In a Slump? Rut? Funk? Or just having a shitty day?

Call it what you want but never change your swing

Photo by Christopher Campbell on Unsplash

I recently watched a video of a baseball hitting coach who was working with some MLB pros who were going through a slump. While I am not a huge baseball fan, this video caught my eye. The coach was older, not in great shape, but had the undivided attention of these much younger, professional athletes. As he spoke, I could see he knew what he was talking about. He sounded more like a guru than a hitting coach. 

He said the worst thing you can do when in a slump was to change your swing. His advice… Move up in the box. Or move back a bit. Get closer to the plate. Maybe back away a touch. “But whatever you do, never change your swing.”  

Adjust. Recalibrate. Change perspective. But leave the swing alone.

Now, I’m sure there are some hitters who have made minor adjustments to their swing through the years in order to break a slump. Choke up on the bat. Get the front elbow up. But for the most part, the basic mechanics remain unchanged. Some hitters may change their pre-at bat routine, take extra batting practice, or maybe even take a break altogether. Regardless, the swing stays pretty much the same.

The same can be said for us as human beings when we feel like we’re in a slump. We have a tendency to think we need a complete overhaul when we are feeling like we’re in a rut. And that, in and of itself, can be overwhelming. Thus, we fall into paralysis by analysis mode and never do anything. We simply stay stuck waiting for some divine intervention to pull us out of the fog. 

You know what got you here.

You know what makes you feel good in your skin. 

You’ve dug yourself out of these funks before. 

You might not be a professional baseball player, but you are a professional human being!

So, perhaps it's some minor adjustments you need to make to get back on track. Go for a walk and clear your head. Grab that journal to better understand your emotions and gain a new perspective. Go for a run and get the blood flowing. Put the phone down for a few minutes and find some quiet time. Whatever it is, a small adjustment to your approach can make a world of difference. 

When I feel in a funk, I always go back to the things I know will help get me back on track. The sad thing is, it’s typically the absence of these practices that precipitate falling into a slump. 

I walk for clarity.

I journal for understanding.

I do breathwork for calmness. 

But sometimes I need to shake things up a bit. Again, the idea is not to radically change who I am in order to get back on track. It’s simply to change perspective or slightly alter my approach. Maybe it’s finding a different path to walk. Perhaps it’s a new setting for my writing. Or, a guided meditation as opposed to my usual breathwork. And don’t forget about music. Music can greatly affect our mood and subsequently, help us find the motivation to lift ourselves up. Sometimes I’ll switch from my usual easy listening piano instrumentals in the morning and opt for some yacht rock!

Being in a slump doesn’t mean you are a bad person. It doesn’t mean you need to change your core values. It doesn’t mean you aren’t worthy of love and affection. It doesn’t mean you have to become a completely different person to get out of the rut you are in. Like the hitting coach says, “you don’t need to change your swing in order to break the slump.” So, stay true to the swing that got you to the big leagues of life.  

Perspective is key

So, change your perspective and you just might begin to feel yourself again. Trust yourself. Believe in yourself. And most importantly, love yourself. When we do those things, we begin to feel ourselves again. We get our mojo back. We begin taking steps to get back on track - without ever having to change who we are at our core. That’s how you get out of a slump.

Never change your swing. 

Invitation

Thank you for taking the time to check out my Substack. I’ll be posting more content and sharing my thoughts on all things related to the human experience as well as topics focused on men’s health and well-being. If you’d like to know more about me, my coaching practice, upcoming workshops, or you’d simply like to connect, feel free to reach out to me directly at joe@unum1.ca. Or, visit my website for more info.