Its overtime; all the lights are on you, the crowd is cheering, the coach is yelling. Your legs are weak, there is heaviness in your chest and the sweat is starting to burn your eyes. The onslaught of fatigue sets in and the pressure is mounting. How do you handle it? Are you mentally prepared to push your body and mind to the limit, to get that takedown, to score that goal, to get that winning touchdown?
I often find that confidence is a key factor in the outcome of any athletic competition. The brain is the most powerful muscle in the body and it tends to get underworked. You must feed it, nurture it and exercise it just like you would the rest of your body. You should know what your goals are and know that if you work your hardest they can be achieved. As a competitive wrestler for over 17 years I found that any time I entered a match timid or scared of an opponent I did not wrestle to my potential. By the time I was a senior I knew that every time I stepped on that line I was ready to go 100% and jump any obstacle in front of me, even if that meant getting carried off the mat by the end. I felt as if I could run through the hulk himself when the ref blew his whistle. But I also knew I had done everything in my power to prepare for that moment.
The will to win and the will to prepare are two separate entities. You can love to win but if you're cutting corners inside and outside of the gym you may not be getting the results you desire. You have to want to go that extra mile. Are you going to make those double sessions? Are you willing to stay before and after practice to get those extra reps? If you know you have prepared correctly and to the best of your ability you should go out on that floor, pitch, mat, field or whatever knowing you're the biggest and baddest MF'er out there.
Sacrifice is also a huge part of preparation. Having a clean diet, going to an extra practice instead of staying out late with the boys and waking up early on a Sunday morning may all be part of proper preparation. I know if I go to sleep knowing I've done my best that day and wake up in the morning ready to conquer all obstacles I will not be unsatisfied with the results.
This year I got to witness something truly special. A student of Westfield High School and long time wrestler Christian Barber won the NJSIAA Individual State Championship. The epitome of hardwork pays off. Working with Christian over the past 4 years I have watched him, his work ethic, and his goals grow exponentially. Christian set his mind on a state title and breathed, ate, and slept wrestling. He made the sacrifices necessary to succeed and it payed off. Not the most talented kid in the weight class, his hard work and never quit attitude along with his calmness under pressure brought him to the finals in which he won by decision in triple overtime. He came, he saw, he conquered.
In conclusion, your mind is the x-factor in athletic competition. It is the power behind the physical component of sport. Push yourself to the limits. There is always going to be someone bigger, stronger and faster than you, but if you have the correct mindset there is no one that can beat you. Nothing is unachievable if you commit yourself, body, and mind 100%. Get confident! Know you're the best and walk with a swagger. You are YOU and nobody can stop you. Reevaluate situations in which you make mistakes and pat yourself on the back for doing well. Know that anything the mind can conceive the body can achieve. Impossible is NOTHING.
-Colin Mackay
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