We’re walking home after work, past the local tennis court. A bloke yells out to us, ‘Hey, can you get us our ball. It’s in the gutter right near you. ‘
[Tweet “Snap.. an old script comes careering back.“] Instantly I’m transported to High School. I’m about to throw a ball, knowing full well I’ll be teased or laughed at by classmates – for my throwing style.
- ‘I’m so hopeless, I can’t throw properly. Look at me.’
- ‘I won’t get the ball over the fence. How embarrassing is that.’
- ‘What if I hit the fence and it comes back at me?’
- ‘They’ll all be laughing – at me.’
My partner and I look for the ball in the gutter.
Damn, the ball’s right near me.
For a split second I wonder if I can pretend not to see it. No hope of that though – my partner spots it right next to me.
Damn it.
I grab the the ball. My heart’s beating so damn fast now.
‘Get a grip Greg’, I think.
I walk in from the kerb towards the fence and throw it underarm, up and over the fence. I’m almost in awe of myself. It like one of those slo-mo moments from TV – complete with dodgy music.
It clears the fence, landing right in front of the guy.
Hmmm that’s pretty damn accurate. Even if I do say so myself!
My Script Take-aways:
[Tweet “Stay in the present. Stay in the now. Recognise & acknowledge when you ditch a negative script.”]
- This is the second or third time this ‘rescue the errant tennis ball’ scene has played out over the past year, at this local tennis court.
- Each time I’ve used the same technique and managed to clear the fence easily. It’s time to recognise and affirm this success, to myself. It’s time to write a new script, and ditch the other one.
Catch yourself:As soon as you start to recall a negative experience (or two or three or…), as soon as you start to live out an old script, acknowledge it:
- ‘I’m focusing on the past’, ‘I’m living out an old script’. No judgement.
- Recognise that you’ve caught yourself here – that you’ve stopped the negativity in its tracks. This is a huuuuuge step forward.
Focus on what’s worked for you before.
- Repeat the successful techniques you’ve employed before (so long as they’re applicable).
- Take these techniques further. Build and extend on them.
