Everyone Has Something

Mental Health Awareness Month looks a lot different today than it did when I was growing up.

Back then, athletes were expected to be tough. You pushed through. You kept things private. Talking about mental health wasn't just rare, it was career risk.

Nowadays, a 22-year-old major leaguer sharing his thoughts about mental health isn't just accepted. It might even be a source of pride.

Royals catcher Carter Jensen, in his first full big league season, posted about mental health this week on Instagram and reminded his followers that there is always more to someone's story than what you see on the outside.

I sat down with Carter in Chicago this week and was struck by how thoughtful and self-aware he is for someone his age.

"Growing up you never really wanted to say anything. You didn't want to stand out."

That's changed. And Carter is part of why.

I talk about generations a lot in my speaking work. Audiences often express concern or frustration with younger employees. What I always tell them is this: give them credit. They are dealing with pressures past generations never faced. Social media. Constant comparison. Opinions and criticism with no off switch.

And Carter is navigating all of that while trying to hit a baseball at the big league level and manage a pitching staff that is older than he is.

He opened up about the pressure he puts on himself.

"I've always been a perfectionist and when I feel like I haven't been perfect at anything I do, I feel like I'm letting people down. It's not a good feeling but at the end of the day it's all internal. It's our minds telling us these things."

"If I go 0-4, look at it like today is a day to grow. Today was a day to learn from mistakes."

After his Instagram post, he heard from many people who said his words helped them. He told me he's doing his job if he helps even one person.

Everyone is dealing with something. Even the people who look like they have it all figured out.

"It's important to let people know that you're not the only one feeling that way."

That's Small Ball.

Question: What would it mean to the people around you if you simply asked how they were really doing?