Because we’re capable of brilliance, we expect it all the time yet being human doesn’t work like that. Nowhere has that been more true than the Olympics of late. A worldwide event, the weight of the nation on your shoulders, for many a once in a lifetime and four year (plus) training journey to get to this point and now you must perform!
US gymnast, Simone Biles, has been in the news for her decision to save the team and prioritise her mental health pulling out of an event following the twisties. As she has said, it can happen to all gymnasts but you don’t want it to happen at the Olympics. The pressure and the covid-19 complications must also be a contributing factor.
So how does this apply to us? We’re all capable of gold medal performances, not at the Olympics for most of us but you know what I mean. We’re all good at something and some days we’re at our best, but not everyday. Some days we have the twisties or our equivalent. A term I just learned last week that describes the brain block some athletes experience mid air in a twist/routine where they freeze up and forget where they’re at with their body unable to physically respond to something that’s happening in a split second.
It’s something I talk a lot about in my workshops when we look at high achiever habits, perfectionism and the behaviours and thought patterns that often manifest from our Imposter Experience.
Some days I feel really productive, other days I need to take a walk and watch the surfers and create space to think because my brain is just not in doing mode. Some days I’m on form when I take the stage, other days I’m not at my peak and might deliver a silver medal performance instead. This is a normal part of being human.
We often beat ourselves up for this but it’s to be expected. Just because we’re capable of brilliance doesn’t mean we’ll be brilliant all the time. It’s knowing what we need and doing different things to respond to the seasons to our soul, across the week, the seasons and even the day!
I struggle in the winter months, my mood, my energy levels and my motivation. I want to eat and sleep way more (I actually think we were mean to hibernate!) so I know to switch things up, go more easy on myself in order to get the best from me and give those gold medal performances more of a chance. Whilst at the same time not being hard on myself when I’m not at my gold.
