In many stories, people tend to recount in a way that makes themselves victims. From a psychological perspective, it is a fairly natural self-defense mechanism of the brain. When something fails or is not as desired, finding external causes helps us accept the result more easily.
The example is quite clear after the defeat of the Vietnamese women's team against Taiwan (China) in the 2026 Asian finals. Many opinions mentioned the midday sun in Australia, the unreasonable schedule. Then some people talked about some referee decisions, causing coach Mai Duc Chung's team to be disadvantaged.
The variables are always very many, but the problem is the order of how we perceive them. What is very familiar is the objective factor first, then returning to talk about the team's expertise, about our own problems. And that habit is not only in football.
In work, study or personal life, people also often tell stories in a similar way. Objective impacts are real. But if you just stop there, the story becomes not objective anymore, because when evaluating events, it should originate from yourself.
Like the case of the women's team, of course, knowing the schedule in advance, harsh weather conditions (currently summer in Australia), many other teams also have to play at a similar time frame... so what privilege can we demand in the general context?
Therefore, start with questions for yourself, about fitness, about tactics, about decisions at important times. It will bring a feeling of discomfort, unpleasantness, but it is more useful. Because when you focus on yourself, you have the ability to change. And when the story only revolves around circumstances, it is like a complaint.
And who will listen to complaints? Your mouth near your ears, first of all, you yourself listen, leaving negative feelings lingering in your head. Then, complaints are spread, you may receive sympathy but it is too late to reverse the outcome. Considering yourself a victim will not help.
So, when failure is a part of life, when objective and subjective factors still accompany, when the road ahead still has obstacles, the goal does not deviate... then it is best to stand up and move forward.
