The Four Finite Factors of Athleticism
Posted on Feb 29, 2016 10:29am PST
In
The Win Within: Capturing Your Victorious Spirit, I devote the entire first chapter of the book to setting the groundwork
for how and why we humans are hardwired for victory. A legacy of athleticism
in in our genes; inextricably woven into our DNA. And while modern times
have diminished the need to “survive” in the most primitive
senses of the word, that intrinsic athleticism is still within each of
us. For some, it may be buried deep within the subconscious. But make
no mistake – it’s there. If you want to unlock it or further
enhance it, here are the key areas to focus on:
Brain – Multiple studies have shown that the brains of athletes are adept at multi-tasking.
This doesn’t mean that they’re great at just doing a bunch
of activities at once. It’s also suggestive that an athletic brain
is a faster brain. Interested in increasing your brain’s processing
speed? Toss on your workout gear and engage in some really good sweat-sessions
at least a few times each week.
Emotion – We hear often of what can sometimes be interpreted as a disconnect between
the head and the heart. ‘My brain understands, but my heart has
other ideas.’ Though emotion is still rooted in how our brains function,
it still plays an integral role in the choices we make – both good
and bad. When it comes to honing your athleticism, your emotion and your
cognition need to be in sync with one another. In essence, our feelings
must be in alignment with our thoughts.
Power – Though it seems obvious that power is an integral feature of athleticism,
it’s important to understand that the development of power depends
so much on drive and passion. I’ve seen plenty of powerful athletes
lose competitions to their seemingly less powerful opponents mostly because
the drive and the passion didn’t carry them through to victory.
Endurance – In athletics and all things really, ‘going the distance’ is
a critical measure of success. You’ve got to focus on the entire
race, not just the finish line. Building up the stamina to move agilely
through life’s obstacles is one important way to achieve The Win
Within – no matter what life throws at you. When you’re starting
anything new – a job, a relationship, a sport – focus on developing
the endurance to maintain success in the situation – not solely
on the “end goal.”
Today, success in our society is measured in the self-proclaimed win. The
truth however is that it’s not really about the win itself, but
about the Victory – a multi-level, comprehensive, all-inclusive
mind and body experience. To be truly victorious, brains and brawn must
prevail – together.