for eMaxHealthMost athletes would agree that "pressure" does not help you perform better. However, some athletes handle pressure more positively than others - and use it to succeed. After earning the trophy for the 2008 US Open Tiger Woods said that pressure and feeling nervous is a good thing. In fact Tiger Woods said in a release in his website that he will undergo a reconstructive knee surgery.
How you personally interpret pressure makes all the difference in the world. Some athletes love the challenge of scoring a goal with one minute left in the game or needing to sink a basket to come out on top. However, other athletes tighten up, get anxious, and worry too much about losing a game when their backs are against the wall and they feel under pressure.
After Tiger Woods stole the US Open in dramatic style, a reporter asked if he felt pressure to make up a shot to tie Rocco in the last two holes of the tournament:
"Well, trying to win is pressure, there's no doubt. I was nervous and that's a good thing. That means you care. You can try and use that energy to heighten your focus and then get into the right situation and it worked out great for me this week." - Tiger Woods
What a revelation... Pressure is a good thing. It means you care about your sport. Pressure gives you the added adrenalin to focus at peak levels. Wow, most athletes would cower under pressure and want to run away. Tiger Woods' interpretation of pressure makes all the difference. He relishes the moments that he has to sink a long putt to stay in the tournament or hit a tough shot from the rough to make birdie.
Another great athlete, Michael Jordan, said something similar to Woods. He stated that he feels nervous before a big basketball game, but once the game starts his confidence and instinct take over and he is no longer nervous at tip off.
We use many terms to describe how pressure feels such as nervous, anxious, tense, and worried about results. But most athletes do not interpret pressure the way Tiger does.
*He thinks of pressure as concern, excitement, a boost of adrenalin, and enhanced focus to perform at your peak.*
If you want to learn more about how to interpret pregame pressure as helpful to your performance and perform with a calm mind, I suggest you check out "The Relaxed Athlete," my latest CD and workbook program:
Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D., Master Mental Game Coach
P.S.
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