“I suppose we end up where we think we belong a lot of the times. It’s amazing what the subconscious does. Whatever’s deep down inside us and we believe that’s our status, that’s where we end up.” – Padraig Harrington, 3-time Major winner
This month’s post can be summarized in one statement: You’ll never outperform your self-image.
In other words, we all have a subconscious or conscious image of what kind of athlete we are, and we will usually end up performing very close to that level. Of course there will be those times when we catch fire or just stink up the joint, but even then we will “even ourselves out” and return to the level we feel we belong.
So this points to the profound impact our self-image has on our performance, which begs the question – What can we do to improve our self-image? I’ll offer up three ways:
Read morewhat if greatness is more about how you lose than how you win?
"It's frustrating not to execute, but at the same time I like having that weakness exposed because it gives me direction in what I need to work on." – Jordan Spieth
If you are going to set and pursue lofty goals, you are going to be faced with plenty of losses along the way. And where better to look for guidance on how to deal with failure than those who have achieved greatness? You can learn everything you need to know about winning from listening to the great ones talk about losing.
Read moreWell, 2016 is here and already in full swing. For me a new year always compels me to look ahead - whether that involves setting meaningful goals, choosing a one-word "mission statement" for the year, or simply seeking out new knowledge and inspiration. So with that in mind, I put together a list of 10 outstanding experts from the field of sport psych/mental coaching/consulting who you need to get to know.
These 10 pros practice their craft in different contexts, but they all share one important attribute - the gift of drawing out the best in the people they work with. They spend their time "in the trenches" with elite performers, and they have seen up close what it takes to excel in sport and in life. So get to know them - connect with them on social media, soak up their insight, get your hands on their books, find their newsletters and podcasts. It will improve your 2016.
Read more“You know you are in deep trouble; so you face the brutal facts of the challenge you’re facing. But at the same time you feel deeply that you will prevail.”
This quote comes from James Stockdale, a prisoner of war for over seven years in Vietnam. Stockdale's perspective on acknowledging the reality of your adversity while still holding to the belief that things will work out became known as the Stockdale Paradox, a central takeaway from research done by Dr. Dennis Charney. Dr. Charney studied a variety of people who had survived adversity in its most extreme forms and yet somehow come out of it without the depression, PTSD, and harmful emotional scar tissue one would expect. He compiled a list of characteristics that set these people apart, and the #1 characteristic was a simple yet misunderstood quality - optimism.
Read moreI often work with athletes and coaches on the idea of making the intangible components of performance tangible. In the field of applied sport psychology this is often accomplished by way of mental skills. These skills (i.e., self-talk, goal-setting, relaxation techniques, focus cues, mental imagery, etc.) are the tools that make it possible to address the mental side of performance in measurable, tangible ways.
But to stop there would only skim the surface – the real development and growth happen in the depths, in the complexities that make us who we are. Ultimately, performing at your best when it matters most is more about how well you know and accept yourself than applying mental skills.
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