How to be in-control under pressure
Nov 05, 2020 6:00 pm
Hello
Our thoughts and feelings are two of the biggest barriers to peak performance! We swim in them constantly, often unaware that many of them are automatic and negative.
Here are two specific thought and emotional challenges and the best way to overcome them. Enjoy!
OBSTACLE: Your emotions take over and control how you play.
Maybe you made a mistake, and your anxiety causes you to play safe and timid.
Ref makes a ridiculously bad call and hurts your team. You can't stop thinking how unfair it is and start making mistakes because you are thinking about the call, not the game.
Opponent hits you with a cheap shot. Now the game is about revenge and getting him back. You get caught in the retaliation and get a penalty.
HOW TO OVERCOME: Remain in control under pressure.
Remember that your thoughts, feelings and actions are independent.
You ever get up in the morning when you didn't want to? Push yourself to go harder when you were tired and wanted to slow down? Ever resist the urge to express your anger at the person who cuts you off driving on the highway? Of course you have.
It is easier to play well when you think positive and feel confident. But things happen and we have anxiety, anger and lack motivation. These cannot determine our performance effort.
The person that runs the fastest always wins. The team that scores the most points always wins (... except in golf, where lowest wins - but you get my point). Actions are what matters. And your emotions are independent of your actions.
Base your actions on what the sport situation demands, no matter what you feel. Because your sport doesn't care about what you think and feel. And neither should you.
As I told a hockey team I consulted with a few years ago, after they spent the first period upset and distracted about the excessive physicality and trash talking in the game (and down a couple of scores), "You can get mad and fight. Or you can get mad and play hockey. Choose because you can't do both."
They came out and scored three goals in the first 2 minutes of the second period and went on to win the game.
If you want help playing in control under pressure, I have three resources for you:
š„ Individual consulting at https://dreddieoconnor.com/telehealth-services/
š„ Success Stories Membership at https://dreddieoconnor.com/membership/
š„ "The Psychology of Performance: How to Be Your Best in Life" at https://www.thegreatcourses.com/dreddieoconnor
OBSTACLE:
Your coach or parents tell you to think positive ā¦ but you canāt. You say all the right things like āIām going to win this match!ā and āIāve done it before, I can do it againā, but in your heart you donāt believe them. The negative thoughts, āI canāt do thisā and āIām not good enoughā overwhelm you. Positive thinking isnāt working. The video below tells you what to do instead!
HOW TO OVERCOME:
Remember that your sport doesnāt care about what you think, only about what you DO. How many times have you thought positively, and performed poorly? It happens because there is no guarantee that a positive attitude will yield a positive performance. You can score with negative thoughts if you execute the skill properly! Trying to think positively can actually be a distraction. If you are wrestling with your thoughts, you are not focused on the game and skill execution. And even if you do improve confidence by thinking positively, then all youāve really done is make yourself feel better and not necessarily anything that will have you play better. You donāt need positive thoughts, you need action thoughts.
Action Steps:
š„ Watch my favorite teaching on āWhat to do when positive thinking doesnāt workā at https://dreddieoconnor.com/when-positive-thinking-doesnt-work/ for free.
š„Check out āThe Psychology of Performance: How to Be Your Best in Lifeā at www.thegreatcourses.com/dreddieoconnor for the entire lecture and 23 other sport psychology lessons that will enhance your performance!
Dr. Eddie OāConnor
