WHERE PRESSURE COMES FROM

Our brains tend to imagine that the way it works is that the HIGHER level the competition, the MORE pressure there is…

Which means less pressure at your daughter’s school competition. A little more on the city level. Even more at the regional championships, then at nationals… 

And of course – most of us imagine - that the mother lode of all pressure comes at the OLYMPICS. 

And our brains believe that this pressure comes at us from some of these stressful situations and just envelop us…

Or perhaps once you step off the plane at the Olympics, you would then enter the pressure zone.

But of course it doesn’t work this way.

Because your daughter could actually feel MORE pressure at her school competition than at Nationals.

AND MAYBE NOT EVEN FEEL ANY PRESSURE

AT THE OLYMPICS.

And that’s because your daughter, like all the rest of us humans, has an invisible shield around her.

And this invisible shield blocks everything out – so whatever happens outside of the shield can’t make her feel anything. Ever.

So let’s say she is at her big competition – there is a lot of chanting. Flag waving. Screaming her name. Her coaches giving her advice, maybe even saying “YOU HAVE TO WIN! YOU HAVE TO SCORE!”

But surprisingly enough, none of these things can actually cause ANY pressure in her.

Because remember, she still has this invisible shield around her.

And this invisible shield allows her to create her OWN amount of pressure to anything that happens to her… regardless of what’s happening outside of her shield.

That is why some athletes might feel a lot of pressure at the Olympics… and others much less. Or perhaps even none at all.

BECAUSE THE BRAIN IS THE DRIVER,

AND THE THOUGHTS ARE ALWAYS THE ONES

DETERMINING THE AMOUNT.

Not whether they are the defending champions, or the national hopefuls, or that they are new and need to prove themselves to the world…

None of those actually matter.

What matters instead,

IS WHAT THEY MAKE ANY OF THESE THINGS MEAN!

If I am the defending champion, then I might make it mean that I HAVE TO win again!

Or I think, I’ve already proven myself so another medal would just be the icing on top.

And the way it works is that one thought could feel exciting and motivating for one person, while the exact same words could create tremendous pressure in someone else.

But here is the thing…

Some athletes LOVE to perform under a lot of pressure.

It motivates them. And the extra adrenaline, cortisol and other hormones help them perform at a MUCH higher level.

While others might perform their best when they feel just a little amount. Or even none at all.

So whether your daughter is dreaming of Olympic glory, or being the best in her class…

She needs to know that the pressure gauge is

IN HER OWN BRAIN.

And she can LEARN to turn up the volume on them,

or learn the SKILLS to turn them way down.