I recently came across an article on “9 ways Olympians develop resilience” and whether these attributes can be taught to the average person to perform better at the gym, tennis court, job and life in general. As a practicing psychologist, who has worked with lots of athletes and non-athletes for over 40 years, I do believe many of these attributes can be learned and/or improved upon. Here are my top five.
- Cultivating a positive mental attitude is one of the most important attributes. Seeing yourself succeeding and remembering your success experiences creates a sense of confidence as you approach any task. Using this prior to a performance can provide your body and mind the balance it needs to do your best.
2. Peak performers work hard to hone their skills. Even after they have achieved a high degree of success, they continue to train and improve themselves. Just compare Roger Federer’s backhand from a few years ago to today. Set a goal and commit to achieving it. Enjoy the effort and the hard work!
3. Successful people have the wisdom to surround themselves with a team, so they can maximize their performances and/or more rapidly recover from injuries and setbacks. A coach, mentor, trainer, nutritionist, psychologist, manager and spouse, with the resources to access them when you need them, can make a big difference in your long-term success. Who can be part of your success team?
4. Great performers are motivated by a love and passion for what they do. They are excited to practice and look forward to competition. What motivates you to do your best?
5. Those who are most successful feel good about themselves whether or not they perform well. They learn from their mistakes and accept occasional setbacks in a realistic way. They spend most of their time being centered in the present moment and are not distracted by past or future issues. What percentage of your thinking is in the past, present and future?
These are a few of the characteristics of champions, and I hope you can see that these mental and emotional skills are mostly attainable to a significant degree by the average person. To get better believe that you can, and invest the time and energy to pursue a lifelong path of self-improvement and personal growth.
