A surefire way to make a bad situation worse is to keep replaying it in your mind. The past is fixed, but the future is still yours to shape. The only thing that matters now is making the best choice given your current position.

Epictetus put it best: “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”

That’s the core of the “Next Play Mentality.” The best performers—whether in sports, business, or life—don’t dwell on their last mistake. They refocus and make the next move count.

Roger Federer spoke about this at Harvard. His message was clear: you can’t let a bad shot define the next one. The greatest competitors train their minds to be as resilient as their bodies. Feel the frustration, acknowledge it, then let it go.

The same applies beyond the court. A failed venture, a botched conversation, a personal loss—none of these are final. The damage is done. What matters is what you do next.

I wish I took my own advice. Like anyone, I replay my missteps too often. But nothing—no regret, no self-doubt—should interfere with making your next shot your best shot.

Next play.