24
Understanding Pressure
To help players deal with
the feeling of pressure,
help them see:
a) The feeling of
pressure is coming
from overthinking,
not the game itself
b) Everybody
overthinks at times.
It’s ok and it’s normal
c) A thought is a
thought (even a
thought that creates
the feeling of
pressure). We can
take it as seriously
or light-heartedly as
we like
d) No matter what
we’re feeling, we
can perform.
A thought (or collection
of thinking) that causes
pressure is a transient,
passing piece of energy.
It has no inherent power
(we don’t have to
believe the thoughts
that occur to us), until
we attach to it and
create a story about
where it’s coming from
and what it means. We
don’t have to believe
the thoughts that occur
to us.
Pressure is a feeling. A
feeling is thought.
Thought is energy that
comes and goes.
Whether the situation
looks like pressure or
not (there may be a lot
riding on the game
externally – the trophy,
money, the crowd) or
whether we are feeling
pressure or not (our
minds are busy with lots
of thinking about the
game), our ability to
perform is always intact.
We can perform
whatever we’re feeling –
it’s just that when we’re
feeling under pressure
we think we can’t!
Our skills are driven by
instinct not conscious
thinking. Whatever the
thoughts that are
passing through our
minds, instinct allows us
to hit, bowl, catch and
throw. Some days it feels
easier and some days it
feels like a real effort,
but whatever our state
of mind, we can still
perform our skills.
Instinct comes to the
fore more easily when