What is pressure? Where does it come from? Why do we feel pressure?
We experience pressure because of the potential consequences or rewards of the results. We create pressure on ourselves by placing great value on the things that may come later, things completely out of our control. We let future possibilities add a heavy burden to the task at hand. They aren't even guaranteed to happen, just possibilities concocted by our imagination. The thoughts that this made free throw will win the championship and make me a hero and cement my legacy. That's a lot of potential burden on one free throw. Thoughts that each made shot will get me on the team or each dropped pass will get me cut; that this bad game will cost me a scholarship or this great game will solidify me as a star. All potential, possibilities, imagination. Who knows, you may get cut anyway. You may have a legacy regardless. You may still get that scholarship or that contract extension. Whatever it is, it's out of your control. The only thing you can control is this task; this shot, this pass, this stop - the right now. And thus, there is no pressure because you have done it a thousand times before, just like this. Unless, of course, you haven't. And then you walk to the line knowing you don't belong, knowing you have cut corners and cheated your way to the moment. So then the only pressure you should feel is the other 364 days. The pressure that there may come a time you're in that moment. And that pressure gets you out of bed each day, into the gym each day, disciplined to your routine each day, focused on your work each day. So when that moment comes you are fully prepared, you've already overcome - already eliminated - the pressure.
3 Comments
Kathy
6/27/2012 05:21:30 am
I really like this post! I will be printing it out and hanging it in my 10 year old son's room. He has been fortunate enough to attend the Columbia College basketball camps and even gotten to see your spinning show. It was awesome and I sincerely appreciate your approach to sports. Thanks for sharing.
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6/27/2012 01:30:49 pm
Kathy, thank you so much for reading, commenting and the kind words. Glad you enjoyed the post. It's great your son had such a positive experience at CC camps. They are the best! I hope he continues to fall in love with the game. In my eyes, it's the greatest game on Earth!
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