In a competitive event, of course there will be a winning team and a losing team. This is indeed the nature of all existing sports. Some players are able to handle defeat better than others.
While it is assumed that one team will lose, it is not always easy to accept that you are a member of the losing team. It takes emotional fortitude to admit that you have lost. Here are some tips that players can use to accept defeat and move forward.
Radical acceptance
Radical acceptance is a psychological concept in which you do not fight what is happening in front of you. This goes for accepting what you cannot change or control.
Unfortunately, there are many things in life that are beyond our control. It can be frustrating if you are someone who wants to control things, but you need to learn to accept that there is things that are beyond your control.
One way to do this is by recognize what is in your control and ask yourself if there are any actions you can take to help yourself.
This is true in sports. When you lose a game, instead of being upset for days, accept the fact that you are angry or sad. You don’t need to change it. Feel your emotions, so you don’t suppress them and end up feeling worse later.
Your feelings are real, and you deserve to let yourself experience them. Don’t let anyone tell you to stop your emotions because it’s unhealthy. Once you accept that you are upset, you can work through these feelings.
What can be done?
Ask yourself – what can be done about the loss? There may be some things that can be done, and you don’t realize it.
You cannot change the fact that your team lost the game. But maybe there is a way to learn from it. There may be a strategy you are using that is not working. You can judge if there is a technique or move you would like to try in games next.
If necessary, you may also need to talk about it. It might be worth sitting down with your teammates and having an honest conversation about their thoughts on the game and what they think you could do differently.
Share your feelings with teammates
You didn’t experience this defeat alone. You have a team of fellow athletes you can talk to about shared experiences. Talk to those people and ask how they feel.
It can help you feel less alone knowing that you have people with shared experiences. Sometimes players struggle with losing the game because they feel alone.
They isolate instead of talking about everything, and that doesn’t help. If you feel sad because of a defeat, you can always contact your teammates. They can be support system which is very big for you.
It helps to share your feelings with colleagues who have experienced the loss. Chances are they’re going through similar challenges, and they want someone to talk to too. Or, you can solve these problems one by one. You can also discuss the loss with a licensed mental health professional.
Talk to a therapist
A therapist is a wonderful person to discuss your concerns in the field and get clarity. You are not alone in your feelings out there. You can talk about your challenges and be candid about what you want to work on moving forward.
You can also learn about mental health issues at Mind Diagnostics. Your mental health is very important. You deserve a safe space to talk about your concerns. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it, be it with a therapist on line or someone in your area.
