31 Aug Use Comparison to Other Athletes as Motivation
Comparison doesn’t have to be crippling.
You also don’t have to succumb to Theodore Roosevelt’s idea that comparison is “the thief of joy.”
It can be, in some sense, when you look around and see everyone else crushing it, running faster, scoring more goals, and getting more accolades than you. You can become so focused on others, envy those who are better, and wallow in your sorrow that you’re not as good. You can be entranced by others’ accomplishments and not take any action yourself. You can make comparison an enemy that shackles you and keeps you stuck with inaction, but that wouldn’t serve you, would it?
Instead, you could shift your perspective into becoming in awe of others better than you and proceed to learn from them. You could look at their skills and become inspired by their daily habits and work ethic. You can celebrate them, too, which would make you far less depressed and shackled by your jealousy. You don’t have to be a miserable, envious loser who is crippled by comparison. You can choose to be an inspired, empowered competitor. Essentially, you can be motivated by comparison.
In my career, I didn’t become a better performance coach by being the best in the room. Truthfully, I prefer to be the dumbest coach at every workshop and conference, so I can humble myself and learn something. Sure, I could be jealous that my colleagues have higher level degrees and PhDs, more certifications, more published papers, more skin in the game and larger client rosters, but that mindset wouldn’t serve my professional growth. Therefore, I chose to realize where I was at compared to them, and took radical action to becoming a professional as good as them one day.
Even though I’m over a decade into coaching, I still love being the stupid one. I don’t know it all. I don’t like being called an expert. I love being humbled. I’m eager to learn and get better.
Use comparison as motivation, surround yourself with people that are further along than you, and do something to improve yourself instead of sitting around and gawking at others to the point of your own self misery.
Get yourself in order and do something.
Do you have deeper questions on training, recovery, and nutrition?
BOOK A ONE HOUR ZOOM PERFORMANCE CONSULT CALL WITH ME (for players, teams, and coaches) HERE
For more on training the youth female athlete, check out my guide book THE STRONG FEMALE ATHLETE HERE:
No Comments