Habits are the backbone of our lives. They can either build us up or break us down. Great habits move us closer to our goals, while poor habits quietly sabotage our progress. Success and failure rarely come from one single moment – they come from the daily patterns we repeat, whether we realize it or not.
My former professor, Dr. Rob Gilbert, recently shared with me a quote from Mark Johnson that perfectly captures this idea: “Habits start out as thin threads, and end up as strong cables.”
At first, a habit can seem so small and fragile that it barely matters. Choosing to skip a workout, hitting snooze, grabbing fast food, or scrolling endlessly on your phone feels harmless in the moment. It’s just a thin thread. But thread by thread, those small decisions add up. Soon, you’ve woven a thick, heavy cable that’s difficult to break.
The same is true for positive habits. Picking up a book for ten minutes a day, journaling your thoughts, practicing gratitude, or taking a few swings in the batting cage may not feel like much. But over time, those thin threads stack together into powerful cables that support your growth, your health, and your success.
Here’s the key: this principle applies not only to what we do, but also to what we think. The words we repeat to ourselves are habits too. If we constantly say, “I’m not good enough,” or “I always mess up,” we’re building a thick cable of negativity that weighs us down. On the other hand, if we remind ourselves, “I can handle this,” or “I’m learning and getting better,” we’re weaving a cable of confidence that carries us forward.
This is especially important for athletes – baseball players in particular. Baseball is a game built on failure. Even the best hitters in the world make an out most of the time. That reality can eat away at players who let negative self-talk become their dominant habit. I’ve seen it happen: one strikeout turns into self-doubt, the self-doubt leads to tension, and the tension leads to more failure. The snowball grows, and before long, the player feels trapped in a web of their own thoughts.
But I’ve also worked with players who are masters of their habits. They understand how much power their daily choices hold. They pay attention to the little things…how they warm up, how they practice, what they eat, how they sleep, how they talk to themselves after a bad game. They don’t leave these details to chance. Instead, they take ownership, knowing that every repetition is another thread added to the cable of their lives.
And here’s what separates the best: they are consciously aware of what cables they’re building. If a negative habit starts to creep in, they cut the thread before it strengthens. If a positive habit is working, they double down and weave it tighter. That awareness is a superpower.
So, let me ask you this: What thin threads are you weaving in your life right now?
If they’re good threads, habits that push you forward, keep strengthening them until they’re cables strong enough to carry you through any challenge. If they’re negative threads, don’t wait. Snip them early, before they grow into cables that hold you back and weigh you down.
At the end of the day, your future isn’t decided in one big moment. It’s decided in the small threads you weave today, tomorrow, and the day after that. The question is: what kind of cables are you building?
Social Media: @billythebatboy
Billy Pinckney
(862) 377-8737
billythebatboy.com
