The Critical Key to Understanding Fear in Sports
Fear. If there is one primary enemy to being mentally tough, it is fear. Fear in sports is hands down the biggest cause of mental interference. I’ve seen it in athletes of all ages, experience levels, and sports. Having an understanding of what is happening can often help.
The crazy thing is this: Fear is nothing more than your subconscious mind. That ‘back of your mind’ that we never really think about gets triggered, and then releases chemicals in your body. That’s it!
When an athlete experiences fear, it is simply chemicals that are moving around and making you feel a certain way. Fear of failure, fear of disappointing others, fear of embarrassment; they are all just mentally triggered chemicals that create a physical response (feeling), that you associate with an emotion. Really, they mean nothing! If you suffer from nervousness or fears in sports, the first thing you need to do is demystify what fear is. It is a critical step.
The reasons you experience fear in sports
When you get down to it, there are only two reasons we experience fear. One is fear of true physical harm (danger), and the other is fear of emotions. Anything you fear falls into one of those two categories. And the vast majority of fears that hold us back are just related to emotions….those chemicals I just mentioned. And those can be eliminated.When you get that understanding, you eventually start seeing fear as just a thing that your body does. Nothing more.
The truth is, every athlete, actually every human, deals with fear. It is normal. It happens to everyone. It’s not a question of if you have to deal with it, it is a question of how you deal with it. The only way you can be assured you are conquering your fears, is to have a process that puts your mental and emotional state in the right place, regardless of any circumstance or feelings. Remember: Winners Win in Advance!
In another post, I’ll give some specific tips on eliminating fears you may be experiencing. Until then, be strong and keep rocking!
Gregg Pruett – The Mental Toughness Trainer
Want to learn more about this and how you can apply effective strategies to be fearless? Let’s talk. Call to schedule free strategy session. Phone #614-620-0449