Aptitude is the ability to learn and apply. Fortitude is courage during pain and/or adversity. And gratitude is showing appreciation and returning kindness. These are three important attributes that are too often under-coached, and required in order to become and maintain greatness.
We are all on earth for a purpose. There are millions of boys who want to use baseball to become great and use their success to serve others. To understand their drive and what can help define it, let’s take a closer look at these attributes:
Aptitude
Learning how to hit is one thing, applying it is another. One of the reasons a lot of young hitters do not reach their full potential is because they believe that talent is a state of being—a final destination. But being talented is being at the bottom.
- Talent — What you do well
- Habit — What you do well repeatedly without thought
- Skill — What you do well repeatedly without thought while under stress
Fortitude
The Latin word for passion is suffering. What I have suffered from has become my passion. My passion causes me to realize my purpose. Grit is the relentless pursuit of purpose, which is the fuel for my purpose. Grit is developed from doing stuff that is tough.
Fortitude is courage during pain and/or adversity. You develop fortitude by intentionally doing stuff that is tough. Let fortitude become your fortress.
Gratitude
Bestselling self-help author Melody Beattie once said, “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what you have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”
Gratitude is a tough thing to express when you are selfish. I know this is true because I am selfish by nature, and when I am not, it is because I am reminded by people or past experiences.
Failing to show gratitude will not prevent you from being a good hitter but you will never experience greatness.
Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.
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C.J. Stewart has built a reputation as one of the leading professional hitting instructors in the country. He is a former professional baseball player in the Chicago Cubs organization and has also served as an area scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 12 years of player development experience and has built an impressive list of clients, including some of the top young prospects in baseball today. If your desire is to change your game for the better, C.J. Stewart has a proven system of development and track record of success that can work for you.
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