Wants vs Needs

 When you want something, you hope you’re going to get it. When you need something, you’re gonna do whatever it takes to get it.  I grew up wanting a lot of things.  I wanted to be in great shape, I wanted to be the best Volleyball player I could be.  I practiced harder than anyone I knew. Every time I stepped on the court, it was clear I put the time in at practice.  Unfortunately when practice ended, so did my work ethic.  I didn’t go to workouts, because I wanted to hang out with my friends.  I didn’t eat healthy, because I wanted to eat carbs and sugar.  I didn’t get what I wanted, because I refused to do what I needed.  In High School I had 8 years of experience on most of my teammates, yet I spent 3 years on jv.  My senior year of high school I had all of the skill and none of the drive to use it. I walked in on the first day of practice thinking this was my year. I thought It was my turn to run the show, and it could’ve been.  I made varsity, but my coach told me I was playing DS unless I dropped the weight.  I hated my coach in that moment.  He took away everything I wanted, but showed me what I needed.  In the moment I thought my coach was ignoring my ability.  Later in life I realized he held me accountable not because he didn’t think I was good, but because he knew how good I could be. Whether he knew it or not, his decision that season would ultimately reshape my life.  I dropped 40 pounds during the season but never got the chance to set.  What I did get was a chip on my shoulder.  I now needed to be the best.  I thought it was to prove my coach wrong, turns out it was to prove him right. I went on to lose 100 pounds.  I would eventually compete in semi pro events. Ultimately, injuries would cause me to shift my path toward coaching.  I needed to make a difference like my coach did for me.  My coach was not who I wanted, but he was exactly who I needed.  You will need to sacrifice to get what you need. Think about it like a muscle, You have to break it down to make it stronger.  You have to give things up to get things. If you chase your needs you will usually get what you want.  If you chase your wants you may lose both. We want to impress others.  We need to impress ourselves.