Jim Abbott

Trust is my favorite and it is appropriate that it comes last. After you’ve found your way, after you have put the work in, after you have made the most of the abilities you were given, and stuck with it, it comes down to trust. Believing in the incredible amount of work you've done and knowing you are prepared for anything. When push comes to shove you draw your line in the sand and say, "This is who I am."

Trust in yourself. That belief that you can do it. Trust in yourself and believe that you can respond in any circumstance.

Throwing a no-hitter was one of the most exciting things that ever happened to me. To throw it in Yankee Stadium made is even more dramatic. That game is the greatest illustration I can think of to demonstrate the importance of trust. During that game the pressure starting mounting in the 6th inning. Pitch by pitch the fans were getting excited, and the atmosphere were becoming electric. That day the mound at Yankee Stadium began to feel like the eye of a hurricane.

Fans, teammates, result thinking, everything starts speeding up big time. The challenge was to bring it back to laser-like focus. This pitch to that spot. Come on, now trust it. Throw this pitch with confidence. You see i'ts that trust, that last little oomph in the delivery that makes all the difference. It all comes back to trusting in yourself and the work you have done, you're ready for this, bring it on.

So that is why I am a big believer in ADAPTing. Not only can we mold ourselves to the challenges that come our way. We can also break that word down into those 5 components and give ourselves 5 incredible strategies, and apply them any aspect of our lives. But going through life with a few extra challenges has made me a better person, not better than anyone else but better than I would have been. I've learned that sometimes adversity can be a good thing.