As I write this entry, it is about nine hours after the Toronto Blue Jays lost to the LA Dodgers in the 11th inning of seventh game of the World Series.
I’m a Blue Jays fan. Not a hop on the bandwagon, start-paying-attention-in-October fan, but a watch most games and know every player’s name by their faces fan — have been for years. Many a sweater has been knit cheering on these boys.
So I can’t help but say something about what has happened this year.
(Some of you might welcome being told that I am talking about the sport of baseball. The World Series is the pinnacle of baseball achievement. You win it after several elimination rounds with other teams, until only two are left. That winning team needs to win four games, so they can play up to seven in that series unless someone wins before that. Innings refer to the length of a game and there are usually nine. Eleven means they were tied at the end of nine. So basically this was a big deal, it is very hard to win, and it was very close.)
Given that we are in mixed company of fans and non-fans, I’ll take my observations out of the stadium and into the everyday work of us all — as these Jays can teach us a lot.
- It’s powerful to know your team has your back. Trusting each other (not just the superstars), knowing you have a place to contribute, and building a remarkable sense of mutual support on a team all help you deal with uncertainty and adversity with courage. In my work with the AQai adaptability assessment, this is borne out: team support is a strong predictor of adaptability. Any quick search of this team will generate multiple interviews with them talking about how much they like each other. It’s rare and precious. Want to become more adaptable? Invest in team culture.
- Awe is good for us, and collective effervescence is one pathway to it. “Collective effervescence?” Yes — basically, being a fan alongside others. Dacher Keltner’s research in this area has been a touchstone for me and this World Series run has brought him to mind frequently. Plus, we’ve sure needed some shared good news.
- People connect with stories. I enjoy baseball not because it’s exciting to watch (most of the time it’s not), but because of the human-interest stories and small dramas that unfold in each game and throughout the season. (Curious? Look up Trey Yesavage). It’s the stories that get me invested.
- Hope is energizing. There is solid science emerging that hope is the most powerful contributor to our ability to thrive in uncertainty. This team never gave up — they did the work and consistently believed that winning was possible. That kind of hope is contagious.
- It’s healthy to have something to look forward to. I will miss not having baseball games to watch over the winter. The season resumes in the spring, and it’s a good reminder that having something fun on your calendar can add momentum to some dark months.
As we dragged our disappointed selves into bed last night, I said to my husband, “I’ll miss them and wish I could thank them. This season has been so. much. fun.”
Win or lose — go Jays!
