CANADIAN PHYSIQUE ALLIANCE January February 2023 | Page 30
SIX TIPS TO HELP YOU PERFORM
Reaching one ’ s potential and performing at one ’ s highest ability takes hard work , dedication , and mental strategies that can be consistently repeated and utilized in stressful situations . As we know , competitions are not won on the day ; they are won in the weeks , months and years leading up to the event . While competitions are not won on the day , they are often lost due to selfdoubt , self-sabotage , an inability to adapt , and performance anxiety . Although Instagram and motivational quotes would lead us to believe that reaching our potential and developing self-discipline is relatively simple . The truth is that it can be pretty complex . Ego , shame , past trauma , a poor self-concept , and fear of rejection are a few common issues that negatively impact athletes . The following tips can dramatically help improve an athlete ’ s performance in and out of competition .
1 . Let go of what others think .
Carl Jung , a Swiss psychiatrist and founder of analytical psychology , advised us never to let others define us . He was trying to say that if you don ’ t know who you are and what you want , you will likely be heavily influenced by what others think . When we strive for external validation from others , we are at their mercy and give all our power away . Mentally tough athletes know who they are and are driven by internal validation . While they may listen and objectively access others ’ negative comments or doubts , they are not deterred or negatively affected . They objectively access the criticism and either learn from it or dismiss it .
Those that seek external validation or tend to worry excessively about what others think find themselves on an emotional roller-coaster and struggle with emotional regulation . Poor or inadequate emotional regulation leads to fear , anxiety , and diminished self-confidence . The most common reasons for worrying about what others think include feelings of shame , fear of rejection , and insecure attachment styles . These can be from past trauma or habits that have diminished their self-worth . Whatever the reasons , if we cannot let go of what others think of us , we will never reach our true potential .
2 . Perform for yourself not to “ impress ” or “ not to disappoint ” others
Closely tied to letting go of what others think is performing for “ you ” and no one else . Again , seeking outside validation is a waste of time . Impressing others is never long-lasting , and like a drug , it causes people to seek more in a neverending quest for approval and validation . Worst of all , performing for others , either to impress or to not disappoint them , often leads to intense feelings of resentment and even depression . The Stoics referred to the idea of “ preferred indifference ,” meaning it is nice to win and get praise but is never the goal nor required for happiness . This is where value-based decision-making and knowing why you are competing are critical . All the people I work with spend time developing the ability to self-reflect and learn who they are and who they want to be as a person