Contributing success to wins versus performance.
Many athletes, especially squash players contribute success to the wins versus losses under their belt. However, success is defined as a range of expectations one has for themselves.
The question is... Do you equate success to the outcome of a score or the performance during the match?
There are many instances where an athlete will lose a match but walk away feeling satisfied and quite happy with themselves because of how they performed. Sometimes you can do everything right and show grit, mental toughness and determination and still lose. The only place loss has in the measurements of success is realizing that there is no feeling of success or accomplishment without experiencing loss. Losing is a part of becoming a well rounded athlete and performer.
On the other hand there are wins that sometimes don't feel like an accomplishment and that is because an athlete can still win on paper but have a performance that is less than adequate.
How can a young squash player find the balance between winning and performing optimally?
Being self-aware is an important part of becoming successful and progressing constantly in a game like squash. Actively reflecting and tracking progress with a tool like journaling is an easy and great way to realize what it really means and what it takes to be successful in a sport that is both physically and mentally demanding like squash. Losses are hard in any sport and any context but the real challenge is evaluating if you are a winner because of a score or because of your overall performance.
How can I help?
As a mental performance consultant that specializes in squash, I can give those who are looking to take their game to the next level mental techniques and skills that positively affect overall performance.
Email ebonie@squashtigers.com to schedule your first session free!
