This weekend two sporting events have taught us again that without fun nothing makes sense. Or put another way: in the end, fun is the only meaning. Each in their own way, yes. The first, this past dawn, with the Super Bowl. The second took place a day before, in which it was one of the duels (or the duel) of the year in the NBA. It was sport in its purest form: in every second and until the end, Luka Doncic and Stephen Curry’s display has made us all a little happier. But above all, one of its protagonists.
The Slovenian added 42 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds that gave the Dallas Mavericks a 134-132 victory over the Golden State Warriors. He did not surpass his rival in points (Curry scored 57) but these were key to winning the game. Again, one more example of why Having someone better (or at the height) in front of you makes you a better athlete: “Obviously it’s a lot of fun playing against Steph. And that I have to do, have a better time playing to go back to being who I was. I have to go back to enjoying playing ”.
There is nothing that takes a player further from victory than losing their ability to enjoy competing (and not just winning). And Doncic has hit the key. You know that to be your best version, you have to have fun again doing what you like the most. Saturday was a little closer to being what it once was.
Enjoying is not accidental or accidental. It doesn’t happen just because. Although it has some ‘magic’ because three ‘planets’ are aligned: body (technique), mind (prepared) and heart (passion). An athlete knows that he is enjoying himself when there is no place where he would like to be more than the one where he is doing what he is doing: playing.
Enjoying competing is not easy. On the contrary, the athlete must have the ability to feel comfortable in any situation that implies a challenge and that does not always happen. What circumstances or causes can keep a player or athlete away from their ability to enjoy competing? We are going to review the main ones and their natural antidotes transformed into mental challenges:
1.- The first cause is boredom or apathy. We speak of the absence of a challenge that motivates us to continue growing professionally and personally. To overcome boredom we have to accept (self-know) that we are not perfect and that there are areas for improvement. You need to set a new goal that allows you to improve yourself and improve in each competition: “Never stop training, never stop learning”.
2.- Secondly, the obligation to win can also be a saboteur. The pressure to compete (which comes from oneself and which comes from the outside) can physically and mentally consume the athlete who fears defeat. Winning should not be an obligation and losing should not be a failure. When it is, the sport is not enjoyed. Winning must be a motivation. It is necessary to change the perception to embrace the competition as the perfect opportunity to improve yourself and continue growing.
3.- Stress for success. We are not talking about victories, but about success. From that bubble of emotions that shakes the athlete who finds recognition and prestige for the work and results achieved. Nevertheless, success can become an energy-consuming centrifuge that takes the athlete out of focus. It is not success, but talent that should motivate you. Train and trust.
4.- Victory as the only objective is another stick in the wheel of fun. Primož Roglič on the synthesis of the main form in this phrase: “It is very harmful to have victory as the only objective. If you finish second, you are finished, you do not find energy to start over, and that prevents you from finding pleasure in preparation, on the way “.
An athlete, like any other mortal, must enjoy the journey. Because focusing on the result and not on the process is like trying to dance with a stone in your shoe. And if not, tell Dan Millman, former world champion athlete and author of ‘The Peaceful Warrior’ (autobiographical book and film).
Dan has everything he wants, but only apparently. Obsessed with getting gold, he is unable to enjoy what he does and his expectations haunt him. An accident will completely shake Dan’s world and forever change what he believed gave his life meaning. If you go a little short of time, In this article I summarize the ideas, phrases and main teachings that you can find in both and that I recommend applying whether you are an athlete or not.