Write your search in the input below and press enter.
Esc to close.

The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich

Peak Performance:
Not Just for Sports, for Life

  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
    • Recent
    • Athletes
    • Coaching
    • Sports Parenting
    • Sports Administrators
    • Life
    • Administrators
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Hello. Sign In

My Account
  • Login
  • Register
0
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk
Subscribe
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich
  • Recent
  • Athletes
  • Coaching
  • Sports Parenting
  • Life
  • Administrators
Home / Blog / Strive for Excellence in Sports, Not Perfectionism

Strive for Excellence in Sports, Not Perfectionism

By: Dr. Chris Stankovich | @DrStankovich | Oct 25, 2012

No Comments

Often at my practice I hear athletes claim (boast?) of being “perfectionists,” which, ironically, is one of the biggest reasons why they struggle with mental toughness and reaching their full athletic potential (AHPS). I’m sure you know somebody like this — or maybe you yourself claim to be a “perfectionist” — but have you ever really thought about what you are saying, as well as how this mindset actually hinders athletic development more than enhances it?

Think about the root of the word perfectionist for a moment – essentially what this implies is that anything less than perfect is unacceptable and, unfortunately, viewed as a failure. While it may sound impressive to call yourself a perfectionist, what you are actually doing is raising the bar so high that it is virtually impossible to ever truly be successful.  The other thing you are doing is adding a very unnecessary and debilitating variable to the equation — anxiety! You see, sport psychology studies show that anxiety increases dramatically as we try to be perfect, and when this occurs the nervous physical energy experienced (i.e. rapid heart rate, shallow breathing, tense and tight muscles, etc.) actually disrupts the mind-body synchrony needed for successful sport movements.

So what should you do if you are a perfectionist?  Stop being a perfectionist and instead strive for excellence! In fact, I would argue that human resiliency is far more important to success than trying to be perfect – and I can prove this by inviting you to read an autobiography of anyone you admire or look up to.  If you do this, you will soon learn that the person you find successful has had to endure countless examples of stress, adversity, frustration, and failure along the way to greatness (Michael Jordan getting cut from his HS basketball team comes to mind as a perfect example).

If you are a parent or coach, be sure to help kids understand that failure is a part of life, and while it doesn’t mean they should love to fail, it does imply that the sooner kids come to realize things won’t always go perfectly, the sooner they will galvanize their resiliency skills.

www.drstankovich.com

Check out our line of performance enhancement products designed to help with athletic excellence, not perfectionism!

 

 

 

anxiety, focus, mental, perfectionism, psychology, sport, success, toughness

  • Author
  • Comments
  • Details
Get to Know the Author

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Dr. Stankovich has written/co-written five books, including Positive Transitions for Student Athletes, The ParentsPlaybook, Mind of Steel.

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Latest Blog Posts

  • March 1, 2021 Important Team Building Success Tips for Coaches
  • February 16, 2021 Help Kids Overcome Pandemic Anxiety as they Head Back to School
  • February 10, 2021 Is Mark Cuban’s Remedy for National Anthem Protests the Right Move?
  • February 4, 2021 Former NFL Star Warns of Potential Problems Dealing with Sport Retirement
  • February 1, 2021 Lacking Social Interaction is Hitting Kids Hard through Pandemic

Comments are closed.

PREVIOUS POST

Tebow Trademarks “Tebowing,” But is this a Sign of Bigger Things to Come?

NEXT POST

Throwback Uniforms May Have Gone Too Far With Steelers Digs

Category

Amateur , Athletes , Athletic Counseling , Coaching , College , Mental Toughness , Performance Enhancement , Prep , Pro , Pro and College Sports , Sport Philosophy , Sport Psychology , Sports Parenting , Sports Performance Science , Team Building , Youth and Interscholastic Sports , Youth Sports

Tags

anxiety, focus, mental, perfectionism, psychology, sport, success, toughness

  • Recent Posts
  • Most Read
  • Important Team Building Success Tips for Coaches
  • Help Kids Overcome Pandemic Anxiety as they Head Back to School
  • Is Mark Cuban's Remedy for National Anthem Protests the Right Move?
  • Former NFL Star Warns of Potential Problems Dealing with Sport Retirement
  • Lacking Social Interaction is Hitting Kids Hard through Pandemic
  • Parent Sports Pressure Can Leave Kids with Overwhelming Expectations
  • Overcome Adversity by Using this Important Mental Toughness Strategy
  • Challenges Endure for Student Athletes Managing Pandemic Stress & Related Concerns
  • Maximize the Strength of Your Team through Care, Concern, & Compassion
  • Lacking Social Interaction is Hitting Kids Hard through Pandemic
  • The Sports Doc on TV

    Catch Dr. Stankovich’s tv, radio, and print interviews and columns here!

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Watch Videos
  • Sport Performance Assessment

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Quickly and accurately test your level of mental toughness in just a few minutes using the Sport Performance Assessment.

    (SPA), an easy-to-use sport psychology system specially designed to help you REACH YOUR FULL ATHLETIC POTENTIAL.

    learn more
  • SportsSuccess360

    Life strategies for performance and character development for coaches, parents, and student athletes competing in youth and interscholastic sports.

    Life Strategies learn more
  • Contact Dr. Stankovich

    1395 Grandview Avenue Suite 6, Columbus OH 43212

    (614) 561-4482
    Media & General Inquiries
    information@drstankovich.com
    Sales & Product Support
    sales@drstankovich.com
  • About Dr. Stankovich

    • Media
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
  • Products

    • Toolkits
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Audio
    • iPhone Apps
  • Services

    • Athlete Performance Training
    • Parent Community Forum
    • Coach Education & Development
    • Athletic Crisis Response and Intervention
    • Drug & Alcohol Assessment
    • Life Success Programs
    • Counseling & Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • YouTube
  • twitter
  • facebook

All rights reserved © 2021 Advanced Human Performance Systems™

↓ ↓