What makes an athlete successful? Being more fit or stronger than the competition? Having perfect technique? Being taller or having broader shoulders? What gets them past the point of being an amateur to being internationally successful? What takes them from novice to pro? Having the best equipment? The best coaches? The best training plan? Or is there something else that isn’t overt that results in their ability to make progress, stay competitive, and achieve lofty goals? I think there is.
I have told people many times that at the highest level of competition what separates the good from the great is mental. Everyone is fit and strong and has some high level of experience. They have excellent equipment and training. They’ve been coached and positioned for success. The assumption is if you’ve made it this far you’ve done the hard physical work necessary and the playing field is level.
But it’s the ability to narrow your mental focus and believe that makes the difference IMHO. Athletes who can line up under massive pressure and perform their best are able to control their emotions, stay calm, and mentally own their experience.
Now if we think about what gets a beginning rower to the point of competency and enjoyment I believe it is also mental. Do you come to practice with the mindset that you can do something? That you believe you can get better? Or is your ritual to doubt and get frustrated. One will move you forward while the other will keep you in the same place. Belief is a critical part of growing and developing and getting better.
So how do you foster your own belief and strengthen your mentality?
- Self talk. What do you say to yourself before, during and after your chosen activity? The difference between “can I do this” versus “I can’t do this” is massive. It’s ok to ask the question of yourself. But as soon as you start adding limiting words into your vocabulary you are limiting your path to success. You wouldn’t tell you one year old they can’t walk would you? You would encourage them and clap and smile every time they took a step or fell trying. And that level of positive talk helps them to grow and achieve. Why not talk to yourself like that?
- Give credit where credit is due. Recognize the small victories. You didn’t flip your single today. You figured out how to square and feather while keeping your hands relaxed. You showed up to train even though your bed felt much better than being out in the cold and wind and rain. It’s important to acknowledge the small wins not only because they encourage us to continue on but they make a large insurmountable task feel smaller and more manageable.
- Have a mantra. When I was training I had a key word or phrase that was present ever day. I used to put gold letters across my wing rigger so that every time I picked up my boat or sat down in it to row I saw them. In 2009 that word was “believe.” I saw that word multiple times a day every day for a year. And it had an impact. My belief grew stronger to the point where I could see the letters in my head when I wasn’t in my boat. I wrote them down in my training journal. I said them out loud. I closed my eyes and felt it. And eventually that belief grew until it was unshakeable. What’s your mantra?
- Understand that you’re no different than anyone else. It is hard not to compare ourselves to others. But if Spud Webb had compared himself to other basketball players who were nearly a foot taller than he was he never would have been such a success in the NBA nor would he have even attempted the slam dunk contest in 1986, which he won. We all have different bodies and backgrounds and strengths and weaknesses. It’s better to focus on honing what you have than to try to have what someone else has. Do you see yourself as limited because you don’t fit the mold? Or are you owning who you are in spite of your differences?
- Be comfortable but not satisfied with failure. Failing doesn’t have to mean we suck. It doesn’t have to mean we should never try again. It can mean that we took a risk and put ourselves out there and we aren’t quite ready. It could also mean we need to re-evaluate our approach. But not doing something because you are afraid it might not work out leads to a limited existence. I’ve learned so much from my failures and they have ultimately informed how I got to those wins I so craved.
The mental and emotional side of achievement is overlooked. But if you spend some time working on the above things you’d be surprised what a difference it can make. Those that are able to find and nurture a deep inner belief will push past failures quicker, keep seeking ways to improve, and often be more satisfied than someone who has all the physical gifts in the world but doesn’t know how to own them.
What do you think? How do you nurture your belief and master the mental side of things?
