The Coach's Corner

New Day

“It might not be
The prettiest thing that you'll ever see;
But it’s a new day, oh baby, it’s a new day.

And it just might be
The prettiest thing that you'll ever see.
It’s a new day
Oh baby, it’s a new day.”

    -    “New Day,” Song by Robbie Seay


I ran through the campus of Vanderbilt University today.  I was in Nashville meeting with some people to discuss opportunities and made time for a run to recharge and reflect before I started my day.  While I could not make out the sun for the clouds, the weather was incredible compared to the Houston heat and humidity.  The architecture, the nature, and the environment were very inspiring.  As I ran through the campus, I saw the beginning of a new school year.  A student walking with a teacher discussing what he did this past summer.  A group of faculty communicating about curriculum as they walked through the quadrangle area.  A mom talking with her daughter about her upcoming freshman year while sitting on a bench underneath some trees.  A group of parents helping their students move into the dorm.  A group of students – probably new freshmen – scurrying across the grass to complete some kind of scavenger hunt as an amused upper classman watched from behind.  A student sitting by herself sipping a latte wondering what her upcoming year would be like.

As I ran past these people, I wondered what they were thinking and feeling.  On campuses all over the world, students are beginning another year of school; but it’s not just another year, it’s a new year.  A “new day” of sorts.  A fresh start and a new beginning.  A blank canvas craving to be painted with their story.

After college, we tend to move past the school year calendar to frame our “new day.”  Each year, January 1st rings a bell beckoning for new beginnings.  For business people, the new fiscal year in September or June drives them to rethink their goals.

We cherish “new days,” especially when the “day” before wasn’t quite how we had envisioned it.  The key question is: How do you envision a new day?  Opportunity or obstacle?  Redeeming or repulsive?  Gorgeous or ghastly?  No matter what side of the fence we are on when we look at a new day, we have to be thankful that we do have a NEW DAY!  How are you going to use this new day to make an impact?

Olympics

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear."

    - Mark Twain

In case you hadn't noticed, the Olympic games began this past weekend in China.  Millions of people around the world will watch their favorite athletes represent their country and compete for the gold medal.  As you observe the performances of these incredible participants, you may be wondering, "What is going through their minds?",  "Do they feel the pressure?", and "How do they deal with the pressure?"

The natural tendency for an athlete, especially an Olympic athlete, is to try and ignore the pressure - to act as if it isn't there!  Can you imagine trying to block out and repress the fact that you have trained for four years to compete in an event, and if you fail, you will have to wait another four years for the chance to redeem yourself??  There is considerable pressure in a moment such as this!  You can't just act like it doesn't exist.  You can't just look into the mirror the morning of your competition and say five times, "There is no pressure!"

As a sports performance coach who works with professional and student athletes, I get the privilege to help my athletes perform in the moment and develop mental toughness to persevere through the pressure.  I do not teach repressing your thoughts, which sometimes feels like being in a pool and trying to push a beach ball underneath the water.  As you push on the ball to keep it below the surface, it pops up into the air.  And the harder you push on the ball to keep it submerged, the higher it fights back to fly into the air above the surface for all to see.

 Instead, I teach them that REPLACING beats repressing!  I work with my athletes to replace their thoughts of fear, uncertainty, and doubt caused by the pressure with thoughts of trust, confidence, and belief.  This process involves thoughts that are based on reality - the reality of their identity, their ability, their training, and everything that has prepared them for this moment.

Athletes are not the only ones who face pressure.  Every one of us will face a challenging situation in our lives.  You may face these challenges not just once every four years, but on a daily basis as you navigate the journey of life.  Whatever you are facing today, what is the fear that is holding you back from achieving your dreams?  Ask yourself, "Am I repressing this fear, or worse, obsessing over the fear?"  Consider how you can replace your thoughts of doubt with thoughts of trust, confidence, and belief about your potential to persevere through the pressure.  That's the secret of courage and faith!