Athletes are perpetually in search of performance aids - food, workout techniques, heavy metal music - anything to help us perform at our best, and typically, we look to our bodies as a starting point; how does one get bigger, fitter, faster and stronger?
Bigger - eat more than you burn.
Fitter - run, run, and run.
Faster - running technique and repeat sprints.
Stronger - shift some steel.
The above will literally work for any athlete. Of course some regimes will yield better results than others - which is why AFL high-performance managers make big bucks - but training the body is not that complicated. We all have reasonably similar physiological make-ups and whilst some are more genetically favoured to become pro-athletes, the formula to peak physical conditioning deviates minimally. That said, where is the challenge in making an elite athlete? For my money, it lies in the top two inches.
The brain is the one part of the body that remains a mystery. My impression is that scientists have mapped out a vague blueprint for how she works, but overall what happens in our grey matter is still very mysterious indeed.
It is easy to quantify big muscles lifting heavy weights or fit bodies running marathons, but rather difficult to see someone’s thoughts, emotions or state of mind. And if we can’t see these feelings, how can we understand how to train them? How do we get the most out of one’s emotions? How do we motivate people to perform at their best knowing that everyone has different motives, perceptions and expectations? Maybe through trial and error, maybe by sharing personal experiences, or maybe by sticking to psychological theory. I really don’t know. But I do know what works for me and I am constantly searching for new methods or new ways to improve my mental state.
Along my journey, I have come across a few mottos that I believe to be useful. I was presented with the following quote in high school by a best mate who was also the captain of the 1st XV.
“The longer I live, the more I realise the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past, we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes.” Charles Swindoll (evangelical Christian pastor)
Another favourite, which ties into the theme of attitude, is from a good family friend who lived with my mom and I for a few months while he was working away from home. Every morning after breakfast he would leave for work and I would say, ‘Have a good day, Graham,’ to, which he would reply, ‘Make it a good day, Michael’.
There is no doubt that we are in control of our actions and our attitudes and while I know these two pieces may seem a bit hokey, I believe there is plenty of truth in them.
Make it a good year,
Mike Pyke
