Does your inner Monday Morning Quarterback often show up shortly after making an important decision?
When it comes to second guessing decisions, we are our own worst critics.
It’s time to stop beating yourself up and silence your inner Monday Morning Quarterback.
What is a Monday Morning Quarterback? A Monday morning quarterback is a person who passes judgement and criticizes after the event.
My story
The past several years has been a difficult season of life. Very hard decisions have been required regarding my elderly mother’s care.
I have agonized over every decision, only to repeatedly beat myself up over what could have been done better.
Recently, the husband of one of my best friends found himself on the same unwanted, unasked for journey.
At the end of one phone conversation, I told them both, “the only thing I can tell you for sure is that you won’t know what the right decision is until after it’s made. And at that point, it’s too late.”
Not very reassuring, but absolutely true.
There is no one size fits all way to do things when it comes to caring for an elderly parent.
Instead, it’s a fly by the seat of your pants situation, and do the best you can as you go along.
Here’s the kicker, that applies to almost every life situation we will ever face.
We learn as we go, make it up as we go along, and do the best we can.
And yet, after the fact, we judge ourselves and beat ourselves up for what we could have or should have done better.
We all need to put an end to that destructive way of thinking and silence your inner Monday Morning Quarterback.
Remember that no one can be certain of the outcome of a play.
Not in football, and not in life.
Prepare and plan but accept that there are too many variables to be a hundred percent certain of the outcome.
Use replays only for the purpose of learning.
A quarterback is unable to change the outcome of a play.
Neither can you. Once it’s over and done, repeatedly replaying a decision, wishing you had done something different, will only serve to drive you crazy.
However, replays are valuable for learning.
Even though you may never face the same situation again, your experience can provide guidance to someone else facing the same situation.
Your teammates are your people.
The stadium is full of fans and naysayers. At the end of the day, they are all going home. They have no real stake in the outcome.
Your teammates, on the other hand, are your people.
One or two solid teammates are better than an entire stadium full of casual viewers.
These are the people you trust. Use them, rely on them, talk to them, get their input.
They are invaluable in every life play you will ever make.
One play does not determine the outcome of a game.
There might be one play, one decision, that goes completely south.
That’s life.
Shake it off and get back in the game.
Dwelling on the play that went south keeps you from focusing on the next play where you might have the opportunity to turn the game around.
Does your inner Monday Morning Quarterback take up too much of your mental energy?
A Monday Morning Quarterback adds absolutely no value to a football game or life.
For your peace of mind, stop beating yourself up and be intentional about silencing your inner Monday Morning Quarterback.
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