Competition is good, just as fear is good, if you use it to your advantage instead of letting it use you. Fear can exhaust us to make mistakes, make us insecure and anxious, but fear used to our advantage can propel us to greatness. It is a double-edged sword. Since fear is internal, you own it, it is yours to use however you want, if you ignore it, it could hurt you, if you use it, it can help you, give you an advantage, especially in the competition. How can I know this?
Well, I suppose any seasoned competitor or athlete understands exactly what I’m saying, but in case you need more examples to help you better understand this concept, read on.
I recently read an interesting article online and saw a great video sponsored by Expert Sports Performance, the video was titled: “How Talented Athletes Cope With Fear” by Loren Fogelman, a well known sports psychologist.
In my opinion, I think Fear is a wonderful thing, a great driver of the human psyche, but Loren Fogelman reminds me of the truth that it “motivates some and stops others in their tracks”, which is absolutely a fact.
Still, I think if FEAR prevents someone from succeeding or causes them to drown under pressure, then I would tell them that:
1.) They don’t understand what fear is; and,
2.) They are not using FEAR as an adrenal injection for peak performance.
Well, I say; too bad for them, if they compete against me or my team. Fear can be a weakness if you let it, or high octane when you need it, YOU decide which one. “It’s all in your head,” I always say. Anyway, that’s the way I see it. A great book to read is: “Feel the fear and do it anyway!” Published by in the 80’s as a motivational type book.
As a competitive runner, I used to imagine steps behind me and ready to go. Interestingly, he was a pretty good athlete, so that didn’t happen much, but when it did happen, it’s a sound that is never forgotten. This imagination during competitive races prompted me to keep up or increase my speed, driving a huge gap between me and the other runners. Sometimes when I’m training even today, I hear my feet hitting the road and I pick up the echo sounds and amplify them in my brain to simulate those always dreaded steps, prompting me to run faster and faster.