Message #151 Distractions

Today’s message is dedicated to the great Ann LoPrinzi.

One of the toughest things to do in sports and life is to perform well with distractions; performing under pressure. Below are some examples…

Pressure from:
-winning
-losing
-your parents
-your coaches
-your teammates
-your opponents
-your boss
-your spouse
-your friends

The list goes on, but the first thing you have to understand is that you will never NOT have distractions or pressure. They are a part of life and to overcome them, you have to have the right mindset.

Focus on the process instead of the product, or outcome. This will help you stay in control, perform better, learn and stay relaxed. It’s called being intense without being tense.

You can also focus on your breathing. Most people take short breaths when they are nervous or under pressure. When you take deep breaths, you naturally calm yourself down.

Put yourself in similar pressure situations. If you get nervous in a tennis match, give a presentation at work. The problem with most people is that they try to run away from pressure situations. The truth of the matter is that it is those exact situations that help you grow the most. The more you put yourself in those situations, the better you will feel and perform. It’s like working out at the gym, it may be a challenge at first, but then you get used to it. However, THEN you need to increase your weight to continue to get results. Your mind is the same way, you need to continue to push yourself in order to keep improving.

So if you’re a student who cannot study with distractions, practice reading with the music or TV on loud or have someone constantly come bother you. This works because THEN, everything else will be easier.

“I am the source of all my emotions. Nothing and no one can change how I feel except me. If I find myself in a reaction to anything, I can change it in a moment.”

Training your mind is just as important as training your body.

Thanks for reading.