Follow Your Thoughts

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

Have you ever paid close attention to your thoughts? Try it sometime. You might be surprised by how much time you spend subconsciously on certain topics. While you are conducting this little experiment on yourself, take notice of how many thoughts come into your brain that are negative or fearful in nature.

Why is it that we spend so much time thinking about negative things? Unfortunately, I have found it to be quite common that people prefer to focus on negative and mentally taxing thoughts versus those that are emotionally gratifying. Wouldn’t we be better served spending our “mental energy” on things that were positive? I know that many people believe that they cannot stop their mind from racing down a certain path, but I would have to disagree. I think each of us has the ability to control their thoughts and direct them in a manner for their most positive benefit.

As parents, I think it is important to share this concept with your children. We all want our kids to be successful and confident in everything they choose to do. Our kids are growing up in a world with intense pressures and ever evolving emotional stimuli, which at times can be negative. If they too are filling their mind with negative thoughts and fearful patterns it could certainly begin to manifest itself in negative behaviors. We want our children to be confident, self assured beings. It all starts with their own self image and self esteem, which is somewhat comprised from their own thoughts. By helping your children understand that they can control their thoughts and maintain a positive attitude, it should only help them produce positive results in their lives, including their performance in the classroom and on the baseball field.

Spend a few days practicing this exercise. If you can keep your mind focused for its greatest good and most positive outlook, I think you will be shocked by how much more emotionally content you can be.

Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 14 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.