Go for Gold
If you're like me and have been glued to the TV watching the Olympics, you may think, "These athletes are not human" or "This 16-year-old has an Olympic medal, and here I am on my couch." Their physical prowess can seem superhuman, but beneath the medals, we have a lot more in common with these athletes than we think.
If you haven’t seen it already, I highly recommend watching Simone Biles's documentary, Simone Biles Rising. It offers insight into how one of the greatest Olympians in history is a regular person with real emotions, feelings, and daily struggles, much like our own. But beyond being human, what else could we possibly have in common with Olympic athletes?
Well, as a therapist specializing in mental performance, I’ve learned that everyone can benefit from these skills, not just athletes. I’ve created a list of some top mental skills used by elite athletes like Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, Ilona Maher, and LeBron James, that you can incorporate in your daily life, to help you go for your gold.
Visualization: Olympic athletes use visualization and imagery techniques to improve performance. They mentally rehearse their routines, picturing each movement with precision, engaging all of their senses. Similarly, we can visualize our success in daily tasks like presentations, job interviews, or even difficult conversations. Mentally rehearsing these scenarios can boost our confidence and performance, paving the way for real-world success.
Goal Setting: Setting goals is crucial for athletes. They break down their ultimate goals into smaller, manageable steps, creating a clear roadmap to success. We can apply this approach by setting goals in our careers, personal development, or health and fitness. Specific, smaller goals keep us on track and motivated to achieve whatever your ultimate goal or gold medal might be.
Stress and Anxiety Management: Competing at the highest level comes with immense pressure. Athletes use techniques like mindfulness, deep breathing, and positive self-talk to manage stress. These techniques are equally valuable in everyday life. Mindfulness keeps us focused on the present, deep breathing calms our nervous system, and positive self-talk helps us overcome negative thoughts and fosters empowerment.
Building Resilience: Athletes face setbacks, and so do we. Whether it's a poor performance, injury, or overwhelming stress, resilience is key. Athletes learn from their mistakes and view setbacks as growth opportunities. We can do the same by seeing our own challenges as stepping stones towards growth, and proving to ourselves how we can be resilient in times of distress. Resilience helps us bounce back stronger, and keeps us on the path to gold.
While most of us may never compete in the Olympic Games, we still share a strong connection to these athletes through the application of mental performance skills in our day to day life. By incorporating these skills you can enhance your performance and mental well being which will guide you to going for the gold in your own life! So the next time you tune into the Olympics or watch elite level sports, remember all of the strategies they use that you can harness for yourself to achieve greatness.
If you have any questions or are curious about working with Gia on mental performance training, send our team an inquiry at intake@healthintandem.com!