The player is demonstratingoptimism, a mental health strategy that involves maintaining a positive, realistic belief that future outcomes can improve through effort and learning. Optimism does not mean ignoring disappointment; it means interpreting setbacks astemporary and changeable, rather than permanent or personal failures. In this scenario, the athlete acknowledges the loss but believes thatmore trainingcan improve performance and lead to success next time. That is classic optimistic thinking paired with a growth-oriented mindset.
Optimism supports emotional wellness by reducing feelings of helplessness and increasing resilience. After a loss, an optimistic person is more likely to reflect on what can be improved (skills, conditioning, strategy, recovery habits) and take constructive action. This approach helps manage stress because attention shifts from what went wrong to what can be done next. It also supports confidence and persistence—two qualities strongly linked with long-term achievement in sports and academics.
The other choices do not fit as well.Avoidancewould look like ignoring the loss, skipping practice, or refusing to think about the tournament—none of which is happening.Pursue happinessis too general and doesn’t capture the specific strategy of expecting improvement through future effort.Meet self needsrefers more to self-care actions (rest, nutrition, boundaries, stress management), which can be part of recovery but is not the main strategy described.
In fitness and wellness learning, optimism is often taught alongside coping skills like reframing negative thoughts, setting process goals, and focusing on controllable actions—exactly what the player is doing by committing to training to influence the next outcome.
