Practicing at Life

The Power of Practice: Turning Setbacks into Stepping Stones

When I was much younger, I spent hours in my driveway practicing free throws. In my mind, I wasn’t just a kid with a basketball—I was Larry Bird in the NBA Finals. Three seconds on the clock, down by one against the Lakers. I would repeat the scenario over and over, visualizing the pressure, taking the shot, and improving with each attempt. That repetition built my confidence, and eventually, I got the chance to put my skills to the test in a city league free throw competition. I won.

Fast forward to today—I’ve taken up golf. Before playing a round with friends, I spent some time at the driving range, testing out different clubs. I felt pretty good with my driver, sending shots soaring to the fence. When it was time to hit the actual course, my first tee shot was solid—but then reality set in. I found myself off the fairway, struggling to get the ball onto the green. I miffed shot after shot. The frustration set in, but then I recognized a pattern: at the driving range, I needed multiple attempts with each club before I got the feel for it. On the course, however, I only got one shot at a time.

If only I could practice those shots over and over again!

Opportunities Over Obstacles

This experience made me realize something deeper: life works the same way. Learning to focus on opportunities rather than dead ends takes practice. Whether it’s free throws, golf swings, or life’s challenges, the follow-through matters.

Life presents plenty of opportunities to learn from our mistakes and setbacks. When we shift our mindset to see these challenges as temporary—not permanent—we can use them to our advantage. The key is committing to what is healthy, helpful, and useful so that failures don’t feel like roadblocks, but stepping stones.

Learning Through Repetition

Think about a skill you’ve mastered. Maybe it was learning an instrument, training for a sport, or picking up a new hobby. How did you stay focused? How did you talk yourself into pushing through the difficulty? That same persistence can be applied to the challenges you face today.

Deliberate practice—the kind that involves goal-setting, feedback, and repetition—is essential for mastering any skill. Whether in sports, academics, or professional growth, those who embrace mistakes as part of the learning process make the most progress.

So the next time you feel stuck, remember: repetition, focus, and mindset shape success. Just like in free throws or golf swings, the more you practice overcoming setbacks, the stronger you become. Keep swinging. Keep shooting. Keep growing.

Take Action

• What is one skill or goal you've been struggling with? How can you apply the principles of deliberate practice to improve?

• Think of a past failure—what lesson did it teach you? How can you use that knowledge to grow today?

• What small, consistent action can you take this week to build confidence in a challenging area of your life?

• Who in your life can you encourage to see setbacks as stepping stones? How can you help them stay motivated?

Let’s commit to growth—one shot, one swing, one step at a time.