Negative Self-Talk at the Olympic Trials: Why Everyone Needs a Coach
A Coach Sees the Roadblocks to Your Success
"I don't need a coach." That was my attitude, way back in the day... after qualifying for the 1992 Olympic Trials.
I was stubborn and thought I knew it all. How was a coach going to help me, I wondered. I just needed to train harder, right?
In retrospect, I know now that my younger self really needed a coach.
"You don't know what you don't know" is a cliché, but perfectly applicable here. I knew nothing about sport psychology, self-talk, priming, visualization... all of those things were foreign to me.
My biggest block back then? I was way too hard on myself. My mind was full of negative self-talk, especially when I didn't do well in a race.
Your Inner Critic Holds You Back from Better Results
Most people are their own harshest critics. While a small dose of self-criticism is okay, too much has a demotivating effect.
When I coach executives, entrepreneurs and athletes, I provide them with tons of self-awareness skills. This removes performance blocks and opens up positive energy and motivation.
My clients are able to catch their negative self-talk and nip it in the bud. If your self-talk is not at least 50% of your daily thinking, I suggest you change that!
As the year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on how much I've learned since that big bicycle race many years ago.
The lesson here is to be open to learning. If you think you know enough, you probably don't.
Wishing you all tons of learning and growth going forward!
—Michael
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