Category: College News

By Mark Schwab, Opportunities to Succeed

This article is the first of several to follow regarding the mental and emotional aspects of competing. Some call it Sport psychology. I call it Performance psychology or managing mind and emotions. Each article will progress. I feel it’s important to know what one is up against in competition and life.

Performance psych isn’t just picking up a few pointers or patching up vulnerable areas here and there. It’s a decision and commitment, a transformation of feelings towards competition, and competing in a whole new effective way. Pp is about strengthening your approach, effectiveness, and results from top to bottom. It doesn’t matter what level you’re at, you can and will gain inches and ounces. Few reach their ultimate potential. This challenge and opportunity is yours to confront or avoid. Unless you challenge yourself, limitations, fears, and doubts, what you’ve achieved up till now, will be as good as it gets.

Everyone talks about how much competing is mental. Yet, from my experience, there’s feeble attention. Developing mentally and emotionally is part of an individual’s education, development, and excellence. One must prioritize and continue to cultivate to reap the benefits. Sadly, most ignore, take their chances, and for many, competition opportunities have elapsed. However, life goes on, and your mental and emotional climate will dictate nearly everything in your future.