At some point in time, every athlete asks themselves the question, “Was that performance really an accurate reflection of my skills as an athlete”
In sports, it’s easy to tie your-worth to your results. The wins, the scholarships, the stats, it’s normal to let those things affect you. Every athlete dedicates time and effort, putting their heart into their performance. So, it’s not abnormal to feel weighed down by the pressure. Just because it is normal to feel down after a poor performance, it doesn’t mean you should. The truth is you are more than what the scoreboard says.
When athletes tie their identity to performance, they ride a constant emotional rollercoaster. Each game well played makes an athlete feel like they are on top of the world. Whereas a bad game can lead someone to experience intense self-doubt. Having this mindset of tying your worth to a game is draining and ultimately unsustainable
What matters most isn’t the final score, but the effort athletes put in and how they grow along the way.. When athletes start to associate themselves with outcomes, they may begin to rely on wins for validation. Each loss can be thought of as a personal failure. When athletes learn to associate success with their own personal growth and not just their stats, they are able to have greater success Athletes can do this by telling themselves:
- “I may have not played my best today, but I showed up and stayed focused”
- “My performance today doesn’t define me as an athlete”
It is important for athletes to work on mental strength so they can separate themselves as an individual, from the highs and lows of their sport. When athletes can create this separation, they are able to play with more freedom – they will even enjoy the process of growth in their sport more.
An athlete’s worth does not change after a tough game. Athletes do not become worthy by winning more games. Athletes earn worth with the amount of effort that they put in, by how many times they’ve shown up, and the resilience they show in bouncing back from setbacks.
So the next time the thought starts to creep in,“I’m not good enough”, take a pause. Remind yourself that you are not how you played in this one moment. You will learn, grow, and continue with each game you play.