athlete supportAwarenessCopingFeelingsMindset
Can I Handle This? A Powerful Mindset Shift for Teen Athletes Recovering From Injury
When something difficult happens (like an injury), it’s natural to ask ourselves all kinds of questions. Often they begin with what if…
What if I can’t play again….
What if I’m sidelined and my friendships get distant….
What if I disappoint others….
And the thing is when the mind asks these questions- they are fear-driven. They are highlighting things we don’t like.
Do I like being injured? No.
Do I like missing practice? Definitely not.
Do I like watching my teammates compete from the sidelines? Not really.
Do I like this uncertainty about when I’ll be back? Absolutely not.
And when the answer is no, our mind resists that because it doesn’t feel good. It’s natural to have an opinion about that.
I don’t want this.
This shouldn’t be happening.
I just want things to go back to normal.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting things to be different. It can, however, leave us stuck in a rut of thoughts and feelings that are draining.
Moving from preference to capacity
Do I like this? puts our attention on preference. We naturally want more of what feels good and less of what feels uncomfortable.
That creates a constant push and pull: chasing the things we want, resisting the things we don’t, and spending a tremendous amount of energy wishing our reality were different.
I was listening to a podcast the other day and Michael Singer, the podcaster, was talking about a different question.
Can I handle this?
This question can build up a muscle you didn’t even know you had in you.
Resilience.
It does not require you to like what is happening. It does not tell you that your injury is a good or bad thing. It simply invites you to check in with your capacity.
And that matters during injury recovery.
When the thing you love is suddenly taken away
If you are a teen athlete, your sport is likely so much more than a sport.
It might be something you do, watch, breathe and dream about. It may be where you feel most confident, connected and alive. Some of your closest friendships might be a part of it.
So when an injury suddenly takes you out of your activity, the loss can feel enormous.
You aren’t only dealing with physical injury.
You’re probably navigating frustration, grief, boredom, and uncertainty.
And sometimes, the hardest part is not knowing how long it will last.
That’s where practicing “Can I handle this?” can become a powerful way of building resilience.
Start with what is actually happening today
You don’t have to answer, “Can I handle this injury?”
That question might feel impossible right now.
Instead, bring it back to what is happening right now.
Can I handle this conversation with my mom about my injury?
Can I handle going to practice and watching my teammates play?
Can I handle doing my rehab exercises today?
Can I handle the setback my doctor or physiotherapist just told me about?
Can I handle someone complimenting me on how well I’m handling all of this?
Sometimes the answer will be a clear yes.
Sometimes it might be I’m not sure.
And other times it might honestly be no, I don’t think I can handle that right now.
That’s okay.
A no isn’t a failure. It is information.
It tells you where you may need more support, more preparation, more time, or a smaller step to begin.
Building the “I can handle this” muscle
Resilience isn’t something you either have or don’t have.
It is something you practice.
And you don’t have to wait for a major life challenge to practice it.
You can practice when you’re sitting at a red light and you’re already running late.
Can I handle waiting another 30 seconds?
You can practice when your food arrives at a restaurant and the sauce you ordered is missing.
Can I handle this? Can I calmly decide what to do next?
You can practice when there’s a pop quiz in math class.
Can I handle this?
You can practice when a friend doesn’t respond to your message right away.
Can I handle this?
These moments may seem insignificant compared with your injury. But that’s exactly the point.
Every time you experience something uncomfortable and discover, I can handle this. I can make a choice. I can move through it and let it go, you are gathering evidence about your own capacity.
You are strengthening the muscle of “I can handle this.”
This doesn't mean you have to handle everything alone
There is an important distinction here.
Can I handle this? does not mean Should I be able to handle this all by myself?
Sometimes handling something means asking for help.
Whether you’re talking to a trusted person, taking a break, or letting the emotions fly.
That is still handling it.
The goal isn’t to become someone who never struggles, it is becoming someone who increasingly trusts herself to handle whatever comes next.
What if instead of asking, “Do I want this?”...
…you sometimes ask:
Can I handle this?
Life inevitably hands us difficult moments.
And when that happens, there is incredible power in discovering:
I don’t have to like this to handle it.
I don’t have to know how this will end to handle today.
I don’t have to feel fearless to take the next step.
And perhaps most importantly:
I can handle more than I think I can.
That is a message worth practicing, not just during injury recovery, but long after you return to what you love.
Growing that knowing, a little more each day, about the person you are, the challenges you can navigate, and the incredible capacity you have to meet whatever comes next.
Let’s Keep Walking Together
If this message resonated with you, you’re already part of the community.
I appreciate you being here.
I’d love to invite you into our Raising Resilient Teen Girls community a caring online space where we share a couple thoughtful notes each week with resources, tools, and real-life encouragement for raising (and being) resilient teen girls.
And as a little gift for joining us, I’d love to give you The Wise Gardener.Whether you’re a therapist, parent, educator, coach, or simply someone looking for a meaningful reflection tool, The Wise Gardeneroffers a visual way to cultivate resilience, self-awareness, and intentional growth.
Join our community and receive your free copy of Wise Gardener.
Let’s walk this path together with presence, courage, compassion, and a little more ease.
With gratitude,
Chantal
