How do you feel when...

[Oasys17]

You take a round off someone you know is better than you? How about taking stocks from someone you know is MUCH better than you? Someone that you couldn't beat not long ago? The reason I ask these questions, is that I just read Umbreon's thread on getting better rapidly, and, if I understood correctly, he kept bringing up the point of never getting complacent with victories. Always be hungrier for more.

At the recent ECE tourney(my first real tourney), I got to play some of east coast's finest. I took a lot of pride knowing that I could at least compete with them, and take a couple stocks consistently. It made me feel like I had improved significantly over the past few months(when I decided to start playing competitively), and I honestly believe it's true that I've gotten much better, pretty quickly.

What I'm asking to you guys is, what's your opinion on the matter? Do you think it's more beneficial to getting better to savor your wins, have fun, and get excited when you accomplish a major goal? Or is it better to be methodical and never satisfied, never being happy with your performance?

(Also, in case I DID actually misunderstand Umbreon's post, I apologize. I feel the question is still valid though)

 

[Madra Rua]

I don't think there's anything wrong with feeling a sense of accomplishment when you can really tell that you're making progress, but it's important to differentiate between short-term and long-term goals. If it were me, I'd totally be pumped and happy that I did well in my most recent tourney, but that might be a short-term goal (beating x player or getting x placing), whereas my overarching long-term goal might be to establish a name for myself in my region/country, become a positive role model for future players, etc; stuff that won't happen overnight, or even within the month or year, but will keep you motivated.

 

[Elyssa Xey Hexen]

I think this goes back to that section of understand why you lost. Also, understand why you won if you had. Stocks lost is not necessarily a measure of how well you did or even of how many matches you won or lost.

There are people I have lost too who are worse than me and I lost because I took unnecessary risks or made specific blunders in recovery which cost stocks. In over all execution and punishment I exceed them though. In reverse, I have beaten people because they made the same necessary mistakes that cost them dearly in stocks.

So overall, I prefer to take satisfaction in success I know are well earned while disgruntled with any success I know is superficial and not because of something I could control.

 

[pokemongeof]

^ I agree with these statements. That is, if i win!

If I am able to knock out stocks from a legit pro, then there is a sense of pride in myself. It gives me hope that I am decently good, and that I can get even better.

I don't over do it though

 

[Armada]

For me it was kind of a combination I guess.

If I did better then I ever had done before I reached another step. Reaching to the top is not something you can do over one day,one week or even one year. It takes a lot of time and it takes years of hard work and dedication, one step at the time is necessary.

Reaching one of those smaller steps is a indication you have improved,which is good, and you should value that. However it is a very big difference with ending up happy for the moment and to be satisfied with your position.

So if I preformed better then ever before I was happy. It is okay to be it for the rest of the day but not more. Usually I was a bit happy untill I lost to a even better player then I ended up practice even more to kick his ass the next time. But after all I knew it was only one small step on the road to become the best and I will not be happy if Im stuck at this level at the next tournament and even less satisfied if I end up not improving in a even longer perspective.

So the day after a tournament the road to improve continue, it doesn't stop because you have reached a new level. I was having that feeling for a long time that no matter how good I played I could always improve much more and I pointed out my flaws rather then seeing the good things/decision I made in a match. So in a way I was chasing to get completely "satisfied" by becoming the "perfect player".

Ofc no one can ever become perfect but in a way I guess I tricked myself into thinking I could. Since I "could" do it I would do it and that meant I spent tons of more hours to reach it.

Summary of this entire thing is that it is nothing wrong with being happy with a preformence that was good but if you wanna reach the highest level you can't let yourself being satisfied with it cause then you will get surpassed by those players that doesn't accept 2nd place.

 

[pokemongeof]

Wow. That was beautiful Armada. Just beautiful

 

[Oasys17]

I see. I agree with a lot of what you guys are saying. It makes sense. Personally, I don't TRULY believe I could ever be THE best. Possibly the best in my region, and definitely a role model. Perhaps inspiring others to pick up the game and whatnot. Those are my goals. For now, it seems that getting excited when I accomplish a goal is healthy, and I should hang on to that experience and use it to motivate me to keep improving.

 

[MetroidMaster20XX]

I've got a friend of mine back in Maryland who's consistently kicked my ass in Smash since Melee, after I got him into the series with Smash 64. I'm striving to beat him, but I also want to go to tournaments and do well in them. I always want to improve, and I know that sometimes I'll play better, and then I'll have those days where I suck. Sometimes what's going on outside of Smash affects my gameplay.

 

[oukd]

hm...all i know is i let it get to my head for a while. lmao

 

[Han Solo]

As Marth, I once took Kels' Fox down to one-stock on FD after he SD'd twice. It was the greatest moment of my Melee career.

 

[Armada]

Wow. That was beautiful Armada. Just beautiful

Thanks!

I was just being honest but I appreciate the compliment you just gave me =)

 

[Deleted member]

the ability to lean into the limitations of your ability is something you should always work for, both in and out of smash. the competitive nature of a video game highlights that so it stands out more, but it's healthy for you to do your best at all times.

whatever your interpretation of my post is that you take away from it is fine. i don't want my advice to be absolute, i want it to be what the audience needs to hear. your post was fine in my book.

 

[rawrimamonster]

I think you do learn a lot more from losing but clinching a victory against known players is definitely satisfying.

 

[MikeHaggarTHAKJB]

i beat ek at my second tournament ever
former world champion and 5th/6th in sweden at the time
get @ me haters

 

[Oasys17]

Lmao, I never let it get to my head, DESPITE what my immediate local smash group might think xD But okay, it's good to hear all of your feedback guys