FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real

Athletes and Fear

Failure, disappointment, setbacks and reversals are a natural part of life. Nevertheless, athletes that have trained and prepared for a monumental event like the Olympic and Paralympic Games, some for much of their life, may well be plagued by a dreadful horde of fears: the fear of losing; the fear of embarrassment; the fear of letting others down; the fear of putting in the effort and not ever getting the "payoff" in the form of success, medals, etc.; the fear of being rejected or losing prestige; the fear of making mistakes and not performing perfectly after having worked so hard; and ultimately the fear of failure. Fear and fear of failure are a constant source of stress and anxiety that sabotages athletes’ mental game and performance.  This fear of failure results in an unhealthy obsession over the possibility of mistakes, impeding the athlete’s performance with over caution, indecision and tension. Modern psychologists have termed this the “fear driven mindset.” 

Overcoming the Fear Factor

This may often seem a problem too deeply ingrained within our psyche to overcome. A useful yet unconventional aid is the age-old spiritual tools that are available from a multitude of sources and traditions across the globe, and give us the rare ability to be undisturbed in turbulent times. For example, the spiritual treaty of Bhagavad-Gita teaches us that fear is detrimental whatever our walk of life, and motivates us to recognize our fears with a view to discarding them. This ancient classical text addresses the problem of fear by equipping one with a vision of detachment, while at the same time nurturing and enhancing one’s dedication to duty and endeavor. By not compromising the pursuit of excellence, the weapon of detachment as outlined in the Gita enables one to cast aside the detrimental effects of fear and anxiety on one’s performance, allowing us to achieve our greatest potential, even in the midst of daunting adversity. 

Fearlessness

Ultimate fearlessness comes from understanding our true identity. We are more than just a score or a sport or an icon, more than the perception of other people. These are not what define us or what should drive us. If you build a house on shifting sands, in a storm your house will collapse. But if you build your house on a foundation of stone, it will stand firm through all storms. This is a world in which storms are inevitable, regardless of who we are, and we should have a firm foundation in self consciousness to weather such storms. The Gita challenges our preconceived notions of identity, encouraging us to embrace our true nature, fostering an inner strength and satisfaction that transcends the unpredictability of this world. By helping us to be happy in ourselves and with who we are as individuals, the Gita helps us to deal with fears. As Olympic athletes, you have been blessed with wonderful talents and abilities, and spiritual texts like the Bhagavad Gita can only serve to enhance your performance, and in so doing allow you to not only achieve your potential, but also to truly enjoy your experience on the greatest arena in the world. 

Try This:

• Embrace the challenges of competition instead of fearing the consequences of failure.

• Don’t dwell on mistakes or errors. Know that mistakes are a natural part of the leaning process. 

• Learn from your mistakes after the game; don’t analyze them in the middle of the game.