We are what we hear.
When we Coach, we’re very deliberate about word choice. We want you to practice that on yourself as well.
You will focus on what you hear from a Coach, if we first explain what went wrong with a lift (“you lifted your toes”) – that’s what you’ll think about. However, if we focus on what you need to do in fixing the lift (“keep your toes connected”) – it should both correct the fault and set the athlete up for success.
Your self talk works the same way. When you focus on what you perceive to be wrong, you’re more likely to repeat that very thing. When that gets combined with harsh and critical language, the situation snowballs into something worse.
Here’s the test. Would you say out loud to someone else, what you’re saying to yourself? If not, then how is that talk helping you? It isn’t. The missed lift isn’t what gets us yelling at ourselves, it’s the expectations we attached to that lift. Whether we’re chasing a personal record, or our gym rival, or some version of who we believe we’re supposed to be relative to the outside world. Instead, focus on who you are right now and what is required for you, today.
These days, there’s lots of talk about mindfulness – here’s what it boils down to – separating yourself from your thoughts. Simple, right? Yet, it’s very hard to practice.
Maybe there’s a heavy lift programmed today and maybe you also slept like garbage last night. All getting upset about that lift is going to do is make the situation worse. Please stop that. Be kind. Our bodies are capable of incredible things, by building on what we can do, doors open to so much more.