It is friday. The D day. Sania has prepared for this night and day and has just one goal in mind- to win the match. She is the cricket team captain and batting at no. 3. Her team believes in her. She knows she is a good batsman. But she is a bit afraid of playing with Royal Queens- she knows that they are a powerful team and their bowler Hina is a veteran. Hina has recently won Woman of the Match in the last two matches. Could this match count for her third winning streak? Sania wonders but brushes off her thoughts.

A few hours later, it’s time. Sania’s team wins the toss and chooses to bat first. As the game starts she is keenly watching Reena and Tashvi’s every stroke. It’s been almost half an hour and their score is great so far- 25 for 0 in 4 overs. The 5th over begins. Hina will be bowling next. As she throws in her first ball, suddenly she shrieks, “Out!”. Tashvi is bowled!

There is a 5 mins break. It’s Sania’s turn to bat and lead her team into a win. But she is suddenly feeling overwhelmed with fear and negative thoughts. “What if Hina bowls me out too? Will I be able to play my best game today?” She feels a bit jittery and nervous as she walks into the team room.

(Pause)

Where do you think Sania may be wrong in her thinking?

a. Her assumption or false belief that Hina is more powerful than her -they have never played together before.

b. Hina must have failed on many occasions too but Sania is ignoring those events which could help her see both good and bad.

c. Sania’s extrapolated conclusion that if Tashvi has been bowled by Hina and so would she.

d. Something else ——————————————————-

This half finished story shows how our beliefs and distorted thinking play a role in our daily lives. We don’t know how Sania’s team will do today but we know that she can surely work on her thinking patterns. She can be more centered by focusing on the whole truth like Hina’s successes AND failures and find the evidence behind her assumptions or beliefs like “Tashvi bowled means she’ll be bowled too”. She can resolve to not easily fall for what she sees or hears. 

A belief is- 

-a figment of our imagination, 

-a half baked evidence, 

-an assumption, 

-a repetitive thought, 

-a theory or 

-an incomplete truth 

And can often make or break our day by coloring our realities and not letting us see the whole truth. 

We can learn practices that help us develop awareness around our thoughts, emotions and beliefs. The more aware we are, the better we are at making decisions and choices that can make or break our days. Mindfulness principles and cognitive psychology offer a plethora of such techniques that help build a strong sharp mind that is truth focused, and -calm, discerning and resilient. Remember, what keeps us grounded is being truth centered at all costs and being able to look at the whole picture- both good AND bad.