The ability to focus, bounce from adversity or failure, and coping with pressure and stress, are some of the areas seen in mentally tough people. What we perhaps miss is the fact that being resilient an tough is not the same although they related.
So, tag along with this scene. A goalkeeper from a national team finds herself self-doubting her abilities and struggled with her ability to concentrate for upcoming games in a tournament. Her coach seems to like to play ‘games’ with athlete’s mind as he does not announce with of the three goalkeepers will be playing in the final and very important last game of the tournament. She is upset, worried, fearful, and increasingly self-doubting herself. Her ability to stay motivated on focusing on what matters most (her training and constant improvement of few deficiencies) have started to shake. She was not find an easy way to deal with the pressure. Her worry was high, and constantly stressed about her fate in the national team squad beyond of starting on the final game. Obviously, she was not able to concentrate either. What she needs? To be resilient or tough? What either one entails?
Mental Toughness is part of being resilient. In her case, finding what motivates her to be there, to be better, to be herself. What brought her into the squad, perhaps would keep her there, but having less than she showed before would not keep her there either. Stay focused on improving her own ability, using and improving her craft, abilities, and what she contributes seems to be the way to go. In addition, she needs to be able to find tools to improve her ability to deal with pressure, reminding herself of her qualities, skills, values, and ability to stay calm and deal with the unexpected (on which many times never happen but it is good to prepare for it). Her concentration needed a boost, the improvement of staying in the moment, in the present, avoid distractions, utilizing her ability to shift her attention according with her needs without clinging to any. Mostly important, dealing with thoughts and emotions to make space for full attention, without negative self-talk or fear of failure. She want to stay present, prepared, and ready to shine. SHINE ON!
Few days were available for mental training and she understood that she was a phenomenal goalkeeper by concentration on her abilities, focusing on improving them, minute by minute in training, trying to enjoy every moment, staying present, while igniting more of her natural qualities of leadership behind the defense and orchestrating the team. Dealing with the pressure was nothing new to her although in this case, in this moment, bothered by the coach silence and unwillingness to call the roster ahead of the game, she just had one job to do – work on her motivation, improve on her ability to deal with pressure, and concentrate on what matters most. After the last training session before the game, she was told she was going to start in the final game. The game against a country that had not been beaten by her national team for over seven years. She stepped on the field of play, with the same focus that she had trained with – Motivated, using her assets for the moment of pressure, stay focus on present moment. When the game was over, there was a smile on her face. She had done! A beautiful showing of her team, and a strong win for 2 x 0. She led the way by leading herself first. Shine on, shine within!
“The potential for greatness lives within each of us.” (Wilma Rudolph, Olympic Sprinter – World record holder).