It’s a common strategy employed by teams in all of the various sports. When performance breaks down in some way and the top players are not producing or are lethargic or even trying too hard but not getting results, the coach will typically go to the bench and bring in another player. A football coach may bring in a power runner to replace the speedy back who is not making yardage; a basketball coach may bring in a shorter or less talented player whose enthusiasm serves as a sparkplug to ignite the team; or a baseball manager my bring in a left-handed hitter to face the pitcher who is having great success striking out right-handers.
All of these moves are made in recognition of the fact that a fresh approach may produce success, and it is certainly emotionally healthier than giving up. This approach recognizes that there are many facets that make up a team, and there is a greater chance of success when all of the options are considered.
I’ve found that a similar approach can be used on an individual basis. We all have our basic personality structures that hopefully work for us most of the time. But we also have reserves on our “bench”. When faced with a challenge, it is sometimes appropriate to call upon our reserves to give us a new perspective on making behavior changes that might lead to effective change.
Basically, I don’t consider myself to be a morning person or a “techie”. I am very capable of procrastinating. If I wanted to be successful, however, I understood that I couldn’t just stick with my basic personality pattern and count on being lucky. I had to go to my “bench” and find those reserves that understood that I was capable of working within a schedule that is followed by much of the rest of the working world, and that elementary school students aren’t that much more capable of understanding computer directions than I am, and that procrastination rarely makes problems go away.
I encourage you to do the same. All of us have a “bench” full of reserves that enable us to approach challenges from a new perspective rather than giving up. When you find yourself struggling physically, mentally, or emotionally, and thinking about giving up, that’s the time to go to your “bench”.