I regularly talk with elite-level athletes, and one thing I am continually amazed by are the training programs that they adhere to each day. Grueling weight training sessions, intense runs outside in the extreme heat, and jumping into a cold pool of water to swim laps are but three quick examples of physical training great athletes do that the rest of us envy. Delving deeper, what is the psychology behind actually doing these things, versus thinking about doing them? Of course, genetic differences factor in to some degree, but probably not nearly as much as you think. So what is it that motivates great athletes to overcome excuses and laziness so that they complete their daily, rigorous workouts? And why do others come up with so many reasons to not do those very same things?
The power of perception
When most people think about a challenging physical activity (i.e. running a few miles on a really hot day), thoughts of discomfort flood the zone. “I am going to feel like I can’t breathe” or “I cramp us when I run in heat” are a couple quick examples of things we say to ourselves when only thinking about things that demotivate us from exercising, but is there another side to this coin? Yes, there is! For example, rather than thinking of reasons to not do something, why not instead think of the following:
“Yes, running outside today is going to be tough, but I will use caution and drink plenty of water, and when my run is completed I know I am going to experience strong feelings of exhilaration, confidence, and success, especially when peeling off my sweaty clothes and knowing I did my absolute best today.”
Using the example above, we take the same event (a run in the heat), but instead of thinking of the perception of pain associated with starting the run, we have turned our attention (and perception) toward all the great feelings at the end of the run. This perceptual choice to focus on the benefits of completing an activity is one that we can all make, and there is no disputing that the feelings that follow a good workout are fantastic!
When we approach challenging tasks and think about the benefits of doing them, it allows us to approach the task with better focus, confidence, and resiliency. Conversely, we can easily talk ourselves out of something by simply thinking of any discomfort associated with the activity, so choose wisely if optimal results are the goal.
Final thoughts
How we direct our thoughts directly impacts our level of motivation, as well as the actions we take (or do not take). By thinking about the feelings of accomplishment and the benefits of doing something, we increase our motivation, as well as galvanize our resiliency, allowing us to perform our best. Remember, perception is under your control, and you can direct your attention anywhere you like. Think of feelings of success, and the road to getting there becomes that much easier.
drstankovich.com
