Looking for the "right stuff".

Life can be especially tough for those who always seem to manifest the "wrong stuff." However, things seem to go much better for those who employ the "right stuff" instead. So we must be sure to avoid the former and stick to the latter, if we really wish to make our lives happier, rather than sadder. To achieve this end this brief paper is directed, so our desire is that all who read it will feel more inspired and less dejected.

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What are you made of? Do you have the "right stuff," or are you bothered by the "wrong stuff" instead? For example, do you blame the rest of your team when you lose, or do you shake off the loss by trying to congratulate the opposing team for their good play? Do you try to figure out what you did right, and then think through what you need to do better next time? What would you do if you knew the "Right Stuff" versus and the "Wrong Stuff" as it pertains to your daily life? Would you take advantage of knowing these things or would you let things slide by. This brief paper should help to determine whether you are fostering the "Right Stuff" and/or the "Wrong Stuff." College students, as well as college athletes, need to know which habits are beneficial in order to help that individual to become a better person in many ways, in other words, having the "Right Stuff." Knowing the "Wrong Stuff," of course, should also help the individual to fix the flaws in his or her life, once they are identified and then rectified.

College students generally, and college student-athletes specifically, are often seeking to determine if they have the "Right Stuff," or if their bad habits have fostered within them a behavioral repertoire filled with the "Wrong Stuff" instead. In this paper the components of each will be explained, and some ideas will be offered that should help everyone to take more effective control of their lives.

Predicting one's performance may seem hard to tell, but if you have the "right stuff," you'll almost always do well. Please see below for attributes of one having the "right stuff."

Heroic imagery. Refers to someone who saves the world, at least in his/her mind, and generally concludes that s/he can make everything turn out just fine.

Positive auras. Refers to the glow that draws people to us, rather than walk away in utter disgust.

Highly determined. Refers to someone who never stops, at least not 'til they're ready to drop.

Establishes goals. Refers to someone who will never be lost, 'cause they have a plan to become his/her own boss.

Firm plans. Refers to someone who knows where they're going, and strives to always provide a really good showing.

Make commitments. Refers to those who can be counted on, to get the job done, regardless of the level of the competition.

Good reputation. Refers to those who know ... that maintaining a "respected name" is the only way to go.

Highly confident. When all else fails, s/he never will, for s/he knows s/he's great, and will never be second-rate.

High self-esteem. These folks love themselves, and others too. Isn't that the best thing anyone can do?

Very patient. Like a saint, they always seem to be, and not real antsy like you and me.

Highly optimistic. For them the cup is always half-full, and life is really good, so that's why they always do what they should.

Always ready to try. They will always work hard at what they should do, rather than leave it for some other fool to do.

Good attitude. It is the mind's paint brush, and always will be, for now, and throughout all eternity.

Unfortunately, not everyone can claim the "fight stuff." For them, they rarely think they ever have enough. Plagued with problems, and beset by delays, they haven't yet realized that life is simply an oversized maze. Having the "wrong stuff," and not knowing what to do, are great disadvantages for most of you. Regarding these nemeses, here are but a few, that could drag you down, leaving you wondering what to do:

Loser imagery. Refers to the belief that you're no-dam-good, and not likely to do the things that you really should.

Negative auras. Refers to the idea that you're very bad, and people don't want to be by you. Now isn't that sad?

Lacks focus. Pinpointing where you're going really isn't your game, and as a result, you'll likely miss many fiches as well as much fame.

No goals. Hitting the target is always tough, especially when you don't know where it's at, and you have all the "wrong stuff."

Very noncommittal. When asked if you have trouble making decisions, you reply with a firm "maybe", 'cause you fear getting into things that could become a bit weighty.

Unenthusiastic. So you might be bored and don't want to do much. Yes, with such a lack of desire, it's little wonder that you're always in "Dutch."

Bad reputation. So they don't say much about you, but what they say seems to be all bad. Solution: Just "fake it 'til you make it," and stop acting like such a cad.

Lacks confidence. The one thing you seem sure of is that you're never quite sure, and hence your confidence will likely never endure.

Low self-esteem. For those who know failure and hard times really well, generally possess poor self-perceptions upon which they often dwell.

Bad temper. Anger and rage are often problems that rule, especially for those who lack wisdom and maturity too.

Highly pessimistic. For them, nothing goes fight, that's for sure, and most likely never will, as long as this feeling endures.

Never willing to try. Effort has dignity, so many say, but for those who never try, they simply set much aside to be done on another day.

Bad attitude. A "bad 'tude" will get you no where, but still many try, as though all their problems can be blamed on some other guy.

In order to grab the "right stuff" we must make better choices, and stop being guided by everyone else's voices. Especially when they heap on ideas that bring you directly into contact with the many "wrong things," the term "fish or cut bait" seems to apply here, so choose wisely, please, if you want nothing to do with facing your worst fears.

Yes, IF you wish to obtain the "fight stuff," and avoid the "wrong stuff," you need to include from the following list, all that you can do to avoid falling into your own personal abyss.

Things we must do:

1. We must strive to reach our own POTENTIAL, whatever it might be.

2. Maintain a high level of DESIRE, i.e., "Do we feel the need to succeed"?

3. Enhance your level of MOTIVATION, i.e., "Never give less than your best."

4. Be sure to control your habits, and don't let them control you. For if the latter occurs, they'll think that you're a fool.

5. Change can be very cool, but only do it when you know that it's the thing to do.

6. Direct your efforts toward success in whatever you want to do, and never stop until you become your "ideal person," rather than just another lazy fool.

7. Success, of course, is its own reward, and so it will always be, so work hard and do your best, for in so doing, you'll be sure to pass all of life's tests, as you become the person you wish to be.

8. The most important thing to remember when yo_ seek to acq_ire the "right st_if" is that nothing else really matters _unless yo_ want it bad eno_gh. What's missing here? Answer: U, because nothing will ever happen unless you want it to.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Thomas S. Parish, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, Upper Iowa University, Fayette, IA 52142.

Thomas S. Parish , Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology, Upper Iowa University. Rebecca Newman, B.S., Degree in Psychology, Upper Iowa University.