00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.040
Chapter 9.
00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:09.599
Handling Pressure and Criticism Effectively As an athlete, you will inevitably face criticism and pressure at some point in your career.
00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:11.759
You will inevitably make mistakes.
00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:15.679
It's how you handle these situations that will determine your success.
00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:19.679
Some athletes crumble under pressure, while others thrive.
00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:24.559
The key to handling criticism and pressure lies in having a healthy mindset.
00:00:24.719 --> 00:00:27.679
Look back at your assessment from chapter 3.
00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:33.920
Did you have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset when it comes to criticism and mistakes?
00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:39.679
What type of negative self-talk did you have about criticism and mistakes?
00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:43.679
How did you decide to reframe those mindsets?
00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:47.600
You are not your mistakes or your failures.
00:00:47.840 --> 00:00:51.679
You're not the time you wasted or the opportunities you missed.
00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:56.000
You're not the bad decisions you made or the person you used to be.
00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:58.799
You're not your regrets or your shame.
00:00:58.960 --> 00:01:00.320
You're not your past.
00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:02.399
You are so much more than that.
00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:05.680
You are the lessons you learn from your mistakes.
00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:09.200
You are the wisdom you gain from your experiences.
00:01:09.439 --> 00:01:14.319
You are the strength you built up from your overcoming difficult times.
00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:24.480
You are the person you've become because of everything you've been through, and you are so much more than just your mistakes, so don't let them define you or hold you back.
00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:28.159
As any athlete knows, mistakes are a part of the game.
00:01:28.319 --> 00:01:32.560
Whether it's a missed shot or a dropped pass, everyone makes them.
00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:36.879
The important thing is to learn from your mistakes and not let them get you down.
00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:41.840
After all, a mistake is just an action, not a personality or a person.
00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:45.599
Think now, what was the last mistake you made?
00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:48.560
How did you react to making that mistake?
00:01:48.799 --> 00:01:51.680
How can you react better to your mistakes?
00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:54.159
The key is to have a healthy mindset.
00:01:54.319 --> 00:02:00.239
Instead of berating yourself for every little thing, try to be more understanding and forgiving.
00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:03.439
Accept that everyone makes mistakes and that's okay.
00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:08.159
Remind yourself that making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process.
00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:10.879
And most importantly, don't give up.
00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:16.479
Instead, use your mistakes as motivation to keep going and do better next time.
00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:24.960
A study published in the National Library of Medicine shows that Olympic gold medalists consider setbacks essential to their eventual wins.
00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:30.560
A healthy mindset is key, especially true when it comes to recovering from mistakes.
00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:36.479
By being mindful of our actions, we can catch ourselves before we make a mistake.
00:02:36.639 --> 00:02:44.000
And if we do make a mistake, mindfulness allows us to see it for what it is, an opportunity to learn and grow.
00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:50.159
When we are mindful, we are better able to see our mistakes as just that mistakes.
00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:54.719
We can learn from them and move on rather than letting them define us.
00:02:54.960 --> 00:03:00.879
So next time you find yourself making a mistake, take a deep breath and be mindful of the situation.
00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:05.919
See it for what it is and use it as an opportunity to learn and grow.
00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:10.080
There are many mindful techniques that can help you learn from your mistakes.
00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:12.719
One is to simply pay attention to your mistakes.
00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:16.240
Notice what led up to the mistake and what happened afterward.
00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:22.080
This will help you understand what went wrong and how to avoid making the same mistake again.
00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:25.360
Another technique is to accept your mistakes.
00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:28.960
Don't beat yourself up and dwell on what went wrong.
00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:32.319
Accept that you made a mistake and then let it go.
00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:39.759
This will help you move on from your mistakes more quickly and prevent you from making the same ones again in the future.
00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:45.759
Finally, don't be afraid to ask for help when it comes to handling criticism and pressure.
00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:52.240
Talk to a trusted friend or family member or seek out professional help if you're struggling to cope.
00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:55.759
Remember, you don't have to go through this alone.
00:03:55.919 --> 00:04:02.240
Take a moment and ask, how could you have reacted better to your last mistake?
00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:07.360
What actionable steps can you take to react better than next time?
00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:09.680
And there will be a next time.
00:04:11.039 --> 00:04:13.680
Handling criticism and pressure.
00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:18.079
Handling criticism and pressure is an important part of being an athlete.
00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:21.120
Not everyone will agree with you or your methods.
00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:24.560
There will always be people who are critical of what you do.
00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:29.439
It is important to listen to constructive criticism, but don't let it get to you.
00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:33.439
Use it as motivation to improve and prove the critics wrong.
00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:36.240
What is constructive criticism?
00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:41.680
Constructive criticism is a positive way to give feedback that helps improve performance.
00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:46.879
When delivered effectively, it can motivate and inspire people to do their best work.
00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:50.879
It should be specific, objective, and focused on the future.
00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:56.879
The goal is to help the person understand what they need to do differently in order to improve.
00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:03.360
To be constructive, criticism must always be delivered in a way that is respectful and professional.
00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:05.759
It should never be personal or vague.
00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:12.560
When given constructively, criticism can be a valuable tool for helping people reach their full potential.
00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:14.879
What is negative criticism?
00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:23.279
Negative criticism is when someone points out what is wrong with something you've done without offering any helpful advice on how to improve.
00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:29.839
It can be extremely frustrating, especially if you're trying your best and making an effort to improve.
00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:35.600
Unfortunately, negative criticism is often unavoidable, especially in competitive sports.
00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:39.839
However, it is important to remember that not all criticism is bad.
00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:45.839
In fact, some criticism can be quite helpful if it is constructive and leads to positive change.
00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:55.600
The key is being able to differentiate between positive and negative criticism and use negative criticism as motivation to improve rather than letting it get you down.
00:05:55.759 --> 00:06:03.120
If someone in a position of authority is using negative criticism to hurt people or is making threats, it's important to report it.
00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:08.560
Talk to a trusted friend or family member about what is going on and ask for their advice.
00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:11.920
You can also reach out to a professional counselor for help.
00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:18.240
It's never okay for someone in a position of authority to use their power to hurt or control others.
00:06:18.399 --> 00:06:22.240
If you're in a situation like this, please reach out for help.
00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:25.839
Developing a healthy mindset on criticism.
00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:31.759
Here are some things that you can do to develop a healthy mindset when it comes to criticism and pressure.
00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:33.680
Acknowledge your feelings.
00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:39.519
It's perfectly normal to feel upset, defensive, or even hurt when you receive criticism.
00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:43.439
Don't try to bottle up these emotions or pretend they don't exist.
00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:47.360
Instead, allow yourself to feel them and let them go.
00:06:47.600 --> 00:06:51.600
Write them in a journal, talk to a friend or a trusted adult.
00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:54.399
Find a healthy athlete for those emotions.
00:06:54.720 --> 00:06:56.800
Be mindful of your reaction.
00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:01.360
It is important to be aware of how you react to criticism and pressure.
00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:08.480
If you find yourself getting defensive or feeling overwhelmed, take a step back and take a few deep breaths.
00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:13.040
Remember that you have the power to choose on how you react to these things.
00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:14.879
Focus on the positive.
00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:19.519
When you receive criticism, try to focus on the positive aspects of it.
00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:21.439
What can you learn from it?
00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:23.680
How can it help you improve?
00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:29.680
What are the potential benefits of taking constructive feedback and using it to your advantage?
00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:31.439
Let go of perfection.
00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:35.360
One of the biggest mistakes that people make is trying to be perfect.
00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:41.839
Perfection is an impossible standard to meet, and it will only lead to frustration and disappointment.
00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:47.600
Instead of striving for perfection, focus on doing your best and learning from your mistakes.
00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:49.279
Seek out support.
00:07:49.600 --> 00:07:55.120
Finally, do not be afraid to ask for help when it comes to handling criticism and pressure.
00:07:55.360 --> 00:08:01.120
A trusted friend, a family member, a professional can help you if you're struggling to cope.
00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:06.000
No one likes to be criticized, but it is an inevitable part of being an athlete.
00:08:06.160 --> 00:08:10.800
The key is to develop a healthy mindset and to use it as motivation to improve.
00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:16.959
With the right attitude, you can turn criticism into something positive that will help you reach your goals.
00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:30.240
It can be difficult to stay positive and motivated when faced with criticism and pressure, but it is important to remember that not all criticism is bad, and in fact, criticism is helpful and can lead to positive change.
00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:37.600
Celebrated Olympic gymnast Simone Biles faced tremendous pressure heading into the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:44.720
To listen to the news, you would think that the entire fate of the US performance at the Olympics rested on her shoulders.
00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:47.039
Biles struggled at the Olympics.
00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:48.399
She made mistakes.
00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:53.759
She ended up withdrawing from all of the Olympic events except for two.
00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:58.080
One former Olympic gold medalist said Biles needed to check herself.
00:08:58.320 --> 00:09:04.720
British TV host and columnist Piers Morgan called her selfish and said she had let down her teammates.
00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:09.840
Thankfully, Simone had developed a healthy mindset when it comes to criticism and pressure.
00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:15.919
She posted on her Instagram account, quote, I'm proud of myself and the career I've had thus far.
00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:22.720
This Olympics doesn't erase the past accomplishments I achieved, nor does it define who I am as an athlete.
00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:37.679
Biles placed her trust in her team, stating in the press conference, I knew the girls would do an absolutely great job, and I didn't want to risk the team a medal for kind of my screw-ups because they've worked way too hard for that.
00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:43.279
So I just decided that those girls need to go and do the rest of our competition.
00:09:43.600 --> 00:09:52.320
Simone Biles also told the Associated Press, We also have to focus on ourselves because at the end of the day, we're human too.
00:09:52.480 --> 00:10:00.000
We have to protect our mind and our body rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.
00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:07.759
Making mistakes and dealing with such harsh criticism on one of the largest stages in the world is no doubt terrifying.
00:10:07.919 --> 00:10:11.600
But Biles handled everything with grace and positivity.
00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:16.399
She is an example that anyone can look to for inspiration.
00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:21.279
Take a moment and think about what pressures you are currently facing.
00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:25.360
What criticisms are you currently facing?
00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:28.720
Are they constructive or negative?
00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:34.240
What is your mindset when it comes to criticism and pressure?
00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:39.039
What actionable steps can you take to develop a healthy mindset?