Athletes unlock peak performance with their mindset
Whether on the court or on the field, on the stage or in the water, people create energy doing the things they love. Sports are such a fundamental part of people’s lives, regardless if they enjoy watching them or are a dedicated player. Human connection comes from leaving the comfort zones we are confined to, and sports have allowed society to come together and celebrate teamwork as a whole.
The Summer 2024 Paris Olympics ended last month, bringing on new waves for powerful and dedicated athletes. Suni Lee, one of five women to qualify for the U.S women’s gymnastics team, has been open about her journey in her sport and how she prepares herself for competition. “It’s super important to me because I know when I was younger, the community around gymnastics wasn’t as positive as it is now,” Lee told “Fortune” business magazine this past July. Lee makes it transparent on how normal it is to deal with failures in a competitive sport. Mental health is a foundational part of success in any aspect of life but especially when exerting physical energy, and Lee emphasizes how she uses words of affirmation to motivate her on the mat. “Nothing more, nothing less because your normal is good enough,” Lee said, as her 10-word motivational speech before competing. “Confidence has been the most important thing and just trusting my body, trusting myself whenever it comes to gymnastics,” Lee said. When an Olympic medalist speaks up about the importance of mindfulness, people listen. Lee is able to pave the way for a diverse group of people in sports, showing them how different kinds of mental training are just as dominant as physical kinds.
NPHS athletes can be found similarly using these techniques for the better. At the JV football practice last week, Silas McClosky, sophomore, shared how he uses mindfulness throughout a game. “I think it’s very important if you’re mentally focused and mentally ready for the game,” McClosky said, focusing on his next game against the Arroyo Grande Eagles. McClosky does not only practice mindfulness on himself but with his teammates. “Sometimes when my teammates are all sad, and they make a bad play you hype them up a little bit. Give them some good words, let them know that there’s still a full game ahead of them,” McClosky said. When people can create an environment to be open about the power words hold and the mental preparation that goes into mindfulness, it provides clarity and structure. In retrospect, most people might think Lee and McClosky’s sports are different in terms of how their games are played, but the backbone behind each performance lies within human motivation.
On the basketball court, during JV basketball practice, Brelyn McCants, sophomore, can be found holding a deep love and respect for affirmations when facing the net. “I use words of affirmation to prepare myself for games to remind myself that I was chosen to be on the team for a reason. A lot of times my mind starts to create negative thoughts, so using words of affirmation really eases my thoughts, and reassures me,” McCants said, reframing her focus on what is most important in the moment. “I mean, Troy Bolton said it best, ‘You gotta get-cha, get-cha, get-cha, get-cha head in the game.’ Making sure I’m mentally focused during games allows me to play to my fullest potential. Yes, the physical aspect plays a large role in how I play, but the mental aspect really dictates whether I’m going to allow myself to play at my fullest potential or not,” McCants said, using one of her favorite movies, “High School Musical,” and her dedication to empower herself throughout each and every game. McCants’s love for her sport drives her to use empowering words.
Affirmations can give comprehensibility into what an athlete is there for. Action and affirmation are one in the same, because affirmation is action. Choosing to constantly improve in one’s sport, and making the active decision to use mindfulness techniques, only leads to a stronger foundation for success. Mindfulness and words of affirmations go hand in hand. Regardless if it’s through a contact sport, an individual one or one where it feels as though the fate of the team seems to lie upon your shoulders, the release of positive energy can only contribute to the success of that goal. It does not matter what sport someone plays, where they come from or how they use these foundations, it is about showing up and being present for themselves or their team. “It’s so much more than my return to elite gymnastics. It was me proving to myself that I can overcome hard things, and to hopefully inspire others to never let life’s setbacks stop you from going after your dreams,” Lee said.
