Don't Choke!

I have a friend.

He's pretty smart. And we love to talk sports. Our conversation went something like this yesterday.

Me:?Hey, did you watch the PGA championship over the weekend?

Friend:?Yeah

Me:?Dang, what happened to Collin?

Friend:?He choked

Me:?Yup,?dude, I?really?thought he had his mental game figured out. He's already won 2 majors, what happened?

Friend:?He choked

Me:?That sucks, I was?really?rooting for him

Friend:?I feel bad for these guys. Sometimes, they don't even know what's happening and just don't know how to snap out of it.?

I?began to tell him about this book I read about a training technique that helps elite players accept their mistakes and the consequences that result from them, learn to put them into perspective, forget about them, and move on. When my friend heard this, he said, "Yeah, that's a good technique and could work for certain people, but not everyone is the same. You?have to know what works for you."

Mic drop.

Have you heard of an NBA player named Nick Anderson? During the 1995 NBA Finals, Anderson had a crucial moment?that would define?his career. In Game 1 of the series against the Houston Rockets, the Magic were leading and had a chance to secure the win with a few seconds left?on the clock. Anderson, an 80% free-throw shooter, went to the line for two free throws.?He missed both.?However, due to an offensive rebound,?he?got another chance with two more free throws.?Unfortunately,?he missed both again.?These four missed free throws allowed the Rockets to tie the game and eventually win in overtime.

What's so devastating about this story is that the psychological impact of these misses was significant. Nick was never the same player afterward. During the remainder of the series, he played poorly, and the Magic?were swept?by the Rockets.?The following season,?Nick’s free-throw shooting percentage plummeted, and?he?struggled with confidence issues.?Though he continued to play in the NBA for several more years, he never regained his prior form or reputation as a reliable player.

Oh boy.?

Let's pause for a moment and recap our?"The Mental Game"?series. I am dedicating this series to mental strength because I believe it's one of the most crucial aspects of our success in whatever we do. I have also provided the links for you to read more about each subject if you want to.

• Process vs Outcome:?One of the mental game techniques is focusing on the process rather than fixating on outcomes. Individuals can maintain motivation, reduce anxiety, and?ultimately?achieve?greater?success and fulfillment.?READ MORE
• How You Think Will Change Everything:?There's a formula to make your result a reality. It's the way you think. Believe it or not, once you figure out the pattern of how you?think?and strategize to re-think the way you think, it could be a game changer for you.?READ MORE
• Silence:?Do you want to improve your mental health, grow new brain cells,?improve?cognitive function, be in a better mood,?reduce stress, promote?relaxation, and?enhance?creativity??READ MORE
• Mindfulness:?Having awareness?and learning to be in the moment can help create?your?mental strength and manage?your?emotions.?READ MORE

Okay, back to choking. Let's first define it. The current context of "choking" refers to a situation where we fail to perform at our?normal?level of skill?or competence under high-pressure conditions. This decline in performance is typically due to psychological stress or anxiety, which disrupts our ability to execute plays, make decisions, or perform tasks that we would ordinarily handle with ease. Choking is often characterized by uncharacteristic mistakes, poor decision-making, and an overall drop in performance at critical moments, such as during the final minutes of a close game, in championship matches, or?in?other high-stakes scenarios.

The most?interesting?thing about choking is that it does not discriminate. It can happen to even the most experienced and skilled athletes. And it's not always about the athletes; it happens in various professions and throughout our individual lives. It can happen during our public speaking, performing during a piano recital, during a board meeting, in the middle of a job interview, while having a conversation with a friend, or even while driving on the freeway. Anytime you are faced with a situation to make a decision or?faced with?a?situation?to act or react, there's an opportunity to hit it out of the park or miss it altogether.?

The ultimate question when you are in it is, how do I snap out of it?

Well, like my friend said, it depends. It depends on who you are, it depends on the situation and it depends on what works for you. But here's what you need to know.?This moment does not define you.?This moment doesn't define your capabilities. All of us, whether we are entrepreneurs, athletes, executives, employees, dads, moms, sons, daughters, or?friends - it doesn't matter; if you are a human being, you will face failure and will completely choke at some point. What will set us apart is how we respond to it.

Think about all the hard work, dedication, and passion you've poured into your craft. Those qualities aren't gone because of one setback. They are still within you, ready to be harnessed again. Here's the absolute truth: Failure is not the opposite of success;?it's a part of success. It's a stepping stone that provides life lessons. We need to turn this experience into fuel for our comeback.

Most importantly, let's be kind to ourselves. Let's treat ourselves with the same compassion you would offer a friend. We should be our greatest ally in this journey.

I believe in you; I believe in me. I believe in our ability to rise above and come back stronger.?I?believe?we?can use this moment as a catalyst for growth.?Let's take it one step at a time, and together, we'll turn this setback into a powerful comeback.

We've got this. Let's get to work.

Have a great week!

Hanju