Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable

Elite athletes are comfortable in uncomfortable situations, they need to be, in fact, this skill alone can convert all of the work they’ve done leading up to this moment into a victory. Recall how often Championships are won or lost in the last few seconds of a game, or the way there are split seconds between podium positions at important competitions and you’ll know exactly why your athletes need to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Elite athletes know how to perform under pressure, they know how to produce their best results when it matters the most. An athlete who produces a match winning performance on game day, not just in practice, or at the qualifiers but when everyone’s watching, despite any circumstances, mishaps, losses or mistakes, is a tough athlete. Tough athletes are comfortable in uncomfortable situations. Tough athletes know how to control themselves when adrenaline is running through their veins, when their heart is racing, they’re excited, everyone’s depending on them and they know this counts! “Typically, under pressure people will experience an elevated heart rate, higher blood pressure and adrenaline rushes. Consequently their ability to absorb information becomes more limited and their decision-making skills deteriorate. Often, this leads to becoming overly focused as a way to regain control, or the complete opposite and they lose their focus,” says Bo Hanson, Senior Consultant at Athlete Assessments. I’ll give you an everyday example of pre-judgement and the need to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, straight from real-life. Why do I feel uncomfortable when I sing? Because I judge myself, I judge that I should be at the same standard as the voices I hear on the radio, and I think everyone around me thinks the same. Alternatively, I could accept where I’m at, be comfortable with the uncomfortable and practice, practice, practice . . . The good news for me and your athletes, is that getting comfortable with the uncomfortable is a process that can be learned. Also, I can choose to focus on why I sing in the first place, which is because I enjoy it and I feel good. It is only for me. The groundwork for these skills can be broken down into a step-by-step program that can be implemented each week.