Do You get Discouraged When Things Don’t Go Your Way?
Have you ever committed to achieving a goal, worked harder than ever in practice, focused intently on improving technique but failed to see results in the near future?
You’ve doubled your efforts in practice and paid particular attention to improving technique… and for what? The same results you achieved in the last competition!
Despite your efforts, you begin to lose motivation and question if all the hard work is worth it…
You get discouraged which causes you to pull back on your training…
You even contemplate quitting your sport. You think, “Why should I continue to work hard if I don’t see the results?”
The Pay-Off Myth
Work ethic is considered to be a cornerstone to any performance outcome…
But some athletes have the misconception that if they work hard today that they will perform better tomorrow.
Instead of buying into the fact that progress takes time and persistence, these athletes want immediate gratification.
The reality is that while hard work is the foundation for optimal performance, it rarely leads to immediate success.
Think of the farmer… He doesn’t throw down some seeds one day and expect to see crops the next day… He tends to the seedlings each day…
Even though he doesn’t see the results immediately, he knows growth is occurring just below the surface…
If he gives up on feeding and watering the seedlings, the results will be devastating…
He has faith in the process and knows results will happen if he stays the course.
Athletic improvement requires the same: work, persistence and belief in the process.
Performance is the result of habits and habits develop through consistent repetition over a significant period of time.
What can you do to maintain motivation when results have yet to be seen?
- Give yourself a break – It’s normal to get angry when you are not seeing results but let that emotion fuel your efforts to push forward.
- Be patient – Let go of that need to see immediate results. Everything worthwhile takes time. Know that your efforts will pay off at some point.
- Have a “why” – Remind yourself why you are competing this in the first place. Understanding and using the reasons “why” you compete will help you stay motivated.
- Enjoy the ride – Enjoy the process. There are more to goals than just the end result. It’s not about getting to the top, but rather the climb to the top.
- Give yourself credit – Take pride in how far you have come in your sport and not how far you need to go.
- Celebrate milestones – Remind yourself that each step moves you closer to your goal no matter how small it is.
Successful athletes have learned how to build self-confidence and stop self-doubt. One of our best selling programs, The Confident Athlete, Workbook Program can help you do that and improve your game.
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- How to Stay Committed When Results Are Sub Par
- What is Excellence in Sports?
- How Elite Athletes Combat Worry
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