At some point of our smash careers, I think it is safe to say we encounter disappointments whether it be a string of consecutive tournaments in which we don’t make it out of pools or losing to that particular opponent over and over. It can get frustrating, speaking from experience, to put in countless hours of practice to place the same at tournaments or, perhaps, place lower than usual. Sometimes it can make very little sense. For many, the voices of self-doubt and condemnation can easily come in at the first step of adversity. In fact, some of you may be dealing with the stresses of moving up the cruel Melee ladder. So how do we deal with this?

1. Remembering to have fun!

Aside from a few exceptions, most people play Melee as a hobby. As a hobby, the game should provide us entertainment and help us have fun and unwind from the toils of real-world responsibilities. When I get frustrated from playing the game, I find ways to make it fun. Sometimes, I’ll play FFA with items on with friends or watch some enjoyable videos on youtube. Also what has helped me is to enjoy being in the community. After a tough loss, I’ll enjoy my time destressing by chatting and hanging out with the other players from the community by eating or just playing some friendlies.

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