Here is a fun little statistic: Every athlete ever, has lost. There are no exceptions. Everyone has failed in an important situation, cracked under the pressure of a big game, or has been disappointed in their performance at one point or another. But what we sometimes forget is that we are only human. We are not perfect, and no one is.

Even the best baseball players in the world still fail seven out of 10 times. But, what makes them the best in the world is their ability to look past whatever they did last time at bat and focus on the now. Instead of dwelling on their failures, they move on and continue on their path to success.

There is beauty in getting back up after you fall down. Picking your teammate up after a bad play. Winning that big game after a hard loss. And most importantly, smiling despite the final score.

Athletes need to be reminded more often that we are imperfect and will make mistakes, and that teams will go through trying times. And above all, we need to remember that we have the strength to come back.

Losing is a part of competition. It is what makes sports fun and what makes winning such a great feeling. It would be impossible to appreciate the feeling that you get when all of your hard work pays off if you didn’t lose every once in a while. But, coming back from an offset is what sets a good team apart from a great team.

A mediocre team will fold after they hit a bump in the road and let the rest of the season go to waste. But a team with heart, determination, and a love for each other that rivals their love for the game can overcome any tough loss and find beauty in their prior struggles.

It is important for us athletes to remember why we love the game so much and why we are still playing today. Remember the little girl who used to look up to older athletes in awe and admiration. Play for that girl, the girl who only wanted to have fun playing the game she loves.

Most teams tend to find themselves in a rut after a loss as they are contagious, but winning is too. All it takes is for one person to step up, make that play, cheer a little louder, and give that extra 10 percent. Now it is up to you to find it within yourself to be that player. And there is not a single accomplished athlete who does not have the ability to become the catalyst for positive energy.

So next time you suffer a tough loss and you find your team in a rut, remember these three things:

1. Losing is inevitable. Do not let that loss define your team or you as a player.

2. You are playing to have fun. No loss is the end of the world, and there is always another game.

And most importantly:

3. It is not about the loss, but it is about how you come back from it. Play with heart, passion, and determination every game and never, ever give up because of a few failures.