Fear of failure and performance
Fear of failure and optimal performance: which report binds these two elements?
We can consider performance as the set of all those actions that allow the athlete to make their potential. The term performance is of sporting derivation, this does not mean that we can refer to a wider context, where by performance we mean a performance in any area that provides for a commitment of a certain level.
We remain in the sports world. Physical preparation and technical preparation can be at the highest levels, but if we cannot field an optimal performance, all our potential will remain unrealized. We can be at most physical fitness and have a high technical-tactical preparation in our sporting discipline, but it will be our performance that allows us to express how much we really are able to offer .
Fear of failure and performance
How many times do we hear about athletes who make incredible gestures in training who cannot repeat in the race?
This happens because physical preparation and technical preparation are not enough to ensure that our performance is at the level we can expect. Numerous other typically mental factors enter the field. Several obstacles also come into play that prevent the athlete from reaching the so -called Peak Performance, that is, the optimal performance.
The most common of these obstacles is the fear of failure. The great fear of the athlete who suffers the fear of failure is that defeat calls his identity. In practice: if I lose, I worth less as a person .
How to counter the fear of failure?
A suggestion to reduce the impact of this fear on our performance is to work on the definition of our goals. Specifically: focusing on performance goals will be decidedly more useful than not paying our attention exclusively on the result objective. In tennis, for example, instead of focusing on winning the game it will be more functional to convey my energies on always trying to force the first service ball. Rather than putting the focus on the victory of the tournament it will be more productive to define a strategy that allows me to play every point with constant intensity.
The goal of performance, being under my complete control, allows me to download the pressure and manage stress in a better way. This is because the result is not under my control, and judging ourselves on the basis of conditions that depend on external factors is not a good idea.
This leads us to the second suggestion. To counteract the fear of failure, it is extremely useful to learn to direct our focus on the aspects on which we can have influence . If, for example, during my ultra-marathon could rain, worrying about the climate (which I cannot control) would be a waste of energy. It will be definitely more useful to make sure I have adequate technical clothing with me (which I can check). In this way I will be able to leave for my race knowing that in case of rain I will have done what was in my possibilities. Also in this case we can download the pressure and reduce the level of stress.
The risks of the car-evaluation
Evaluate ourselves exclusively on the basis of the results we get, sooner or later, will lead us to doubt our skills and seriously question ourselves. It is of fundamental importance, when we evaluate ourselves, mainly consider factors such as the commitment made and our degree of improvement regardless of the results we achieve.
Can you happen not to bring home the result and have put a great performance in the field? Of course yes! Here in cases like these it will be more functional to evaluate us mainly on the basis of our performance and not on the fact that the desired result has not arrived.
Do you want to improve your sports performance? Find out how you can do it thanks to Mental Coaching .
Watch the video
