Friday, May 1, 2009

Catching the ball

A casual look at my library would show that I'm building a decent collection of books about boosting my self-belief.

It's not that I lack confidence in my ability. It's that like a lot of others I'm looking for that edge. I like to read about the psychology of sport and how athletes find the zone. I recently heard that Michael Phelps' book is a good read, in particular what I understand is his W.I.N. principle - What's Important Now. I was thinking about that in the pool this morning as my 10 x 200m set was dragging on.

I want to be able to focus more clearly and for longer periods of time. I want to be able to counter and/or delete the negative thoughts and doubts that multiply as does the distance of the race. I am getting better at using mantras and telling myself, even when each step seems tougher than the last, that I'm strong and fleet of foot.

In my library, I have a copy of 'Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ..' by Richard Carlson. As with most books of this type, some ideas have greater resonance with me than others. I'd like to share one which I continue to return to.

"If Someone Throws You the Ball, You Don't Have to Catch It" starts on page 219.

The 'chapter' is short, just over two pages. I'll condense it even a bit further for this post.

"Developing a more tranquil outlook on life requires that we know our own limits and that we take responsibility for our part in the process."

I find this worth thinking about, especially as my training volume increases and fatigue creeps in.

"When someone throws an idea or comment in your direction, you can catch it and feel hurt, or you can drop it and go on with your day."

Without thinking about it, I recognize, in hindsight, that I catch more than my fair share of balls thrown in my direction. Learning to listen without responding is a skill that I'm working on.