Welcome back to Week 2 of our TRIAL series. Last week, we focused on Testing—trying new things, stepping outside of our comfort zones, and discovering what works and what doesn’t. This week, we shift our attention to the next letter in TRIAL: R for Reflect.
Testing is only the first step. Now, it’s time to Reflect on what those tests have shown us. In baseball, reflection is key to growth. Every swing, every pitch, every moment on the field gives you feedback.
The question is: Are you paying attention to it? This week is about taking the time to analyze and honestly evaluate your performance.
Ask yourself:
- What new approaches have I tried?
- Which techniques worked, and why?
- Which ones didn’t work, and how can I learn from that?
- Am I using integrity to assess myself honestly, even when it’s difficult to admit where I need improvement?
Reflection is all about learning from experience. It’s not just about knowing what went well—it’s also about understanding what didn’t and why. This is where integrity, our core value for October, really comes into play. Integrity means being truthful with yourself about your progress. It’s easy to ignore weaknesses or areas that need work, but true integrity requires us to confront them head-on.
This week, I challenge you to take time to really reflect on your tests from last week. Journal about what worked and what didn’t. Have discussions with your teammates or coaches. The goal isn’t to criticize yourself, but to gain insight.
The Assessment Phase is about finding out what does and doesn’t work so that, when we enter the Build Phase in November, we’re ready to strengthen the right habits. Reflection is a crucial part of that preparation.
Next week, we’ll move to the I for Implement—where we’ll take what we’ve learned from our reflection and begin putting it into action. But first, let’s make sure we’ve gathered the insights we need by reflecting with integrity this week.
Take the time. Be honest. And reflect on your journey so far.
Remember: Intelligence tops being smart.
For more information, visit L.E.A.D. Center for Youth today.
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 associate scout for the Cincinnati Reds. As founder and CEO of Diamond Directors Player Development, C.J. has more than 22 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 a track record of success that can work for you.
