22/10/2024
As an athlete, owning your mindset is one of the most important things you can do for your performance. But you also need to realise that your brain can sometimes get in the way of that ownership.
Your brain, along with your body, is constantly sending you thoughts, emotions, and feelings, which can mess with your sense of control during a game or competition. These thoughts and feelings aren’t always something you choose—they just happen because your brain is wired for survival, not sports. It’s focused on keeping you safe, so when you’re playing, your brain reacts to situations as either threats or rewards.
For example, if your team goes a goal down, you might start to feel anxious or doubtful—your brain sees this as a threat. On the flip side, if you score a goal, your brain might flood you with feelings of joy and confidence. While that sounds good, feeling too comfortable can be a problem. It might cause you to relax too much, lose focus, or slow down your reactions, which isn’t what you want in a competitive situation.
That’s why it's key to stay focused on your goals throughout the game. Great athletes keep exploring the situation on the field/court, looking for opportunities to improve, and then taking action based on what they see. You can’t let your thoughts or emotions, whether good or bad, control your focus. Instead, stay locked in on your goal, keep your intensity high, and stay sharp with your movements as you play.