Athletes Who Seek to be Excellent Develop Great Habits by Lizl Kotz
“It’s the work of every day. It’s about accepting the challenge, it’s about being humble enough to accept that sometimes you are not playing that well. And you need to fight for it and you need to try and find a solution and that’s what I did.”
-Nadal after winning a 3 hour 38 min match against Tsitsipas 6-4 6-7 7-5
Among elite athletes, the level of physical disparity is very small. So what is it that separates the good from the great? What is it that drives an athlete to stay hungry and show up every day regardless of their mood or energy level?
Healthy Habits.
Habits of Great Athletes
Great athletes have a growth mindset. Their focus is on improvement rather than the W.
Great athletes constantly seek feedback from their coaches and support group. Rather than taking feedback personally, they welcome it knowing that it offers one more way to get better.
Great athletes welcome competition rather than fear it. They use competition to push themselves and to evaluate whether their training regimen is on target.
Great athletes understand that the day they agreed to compete, they signed up for a journey filled with challenges and obstacles. They pre-accept losing as part of that journey. Rather than dwelling on defeat, they use their losses to learn and grow.
Great athletes avoid burnout by seeking small, yet consistent gains in different areas rather than looking for instant success in one area of training.
Great athletes know that their mind can either be their enemy or their closest ally. They work on their mental strength the way they practice their forehand.
Great athletes practice gratitude because they know it is the antidote to fear.
Great athletes accept the challenge of keeping their emotions in check realizing that their emotions are their worst advisor.
Great athletes are constantly reframing situations to minimize the negative and turn difficult situations into opportunities for growth.
Great athletes always respect their opponent.
Great athletes fight the temptation to play for a parent, coach or the crowd.
They play for themselves and understand that they have to make that choice. My focus is either on my game or on everything else but it can’t be on both.
They understand that mindfulness, the ability to be locked in the present moment, is where the magic happens and fights being pulled into the past
or the future.