I came across an article the other day, and wanted to share it with you. The title of the article is: Can LeBron Transform From Choker To Champ? A Sport Psychologist Has A Game Plan.
Now I know that the name “LeBron,” can bring up very strong and feelings – from opposite ends of the emotional spectrum – but don’t let the name stop you from reading this article. Although the name “LeBron” is in the title, he is NOT the main character in this piece. In fact, he is only the inspiration to a question that concerns every sport:
What is the major difference between champions and chokers?
As it turns out (at least according to the sports psychologist interviewed for the article) the main difference between winning and losing is your ability to control your emotions.
Here’s one line that stood out for me:
In fact, whenever athletes start thinking about the pride or pain of winning or losing, they can become overwhelmed with emotion and unable to perform the basic duties of playing in the present.
“The moment someone thinks about the reward,” Davis says, “they are in a whole different space.”
There are a few more points that I highly recommend you sneek a peek at, including the importance of “staying in the moment,” how to naturally raise your testosterone levels (which is essential to beating down that choking feeling), and how to use a memory of choking (recent or way in the past) to help you get into the champions mindset. (Hint: it’s not forget about it!)
Here’s the link: Click Here
Coach Bones
