Will Over Skill

Some version of this quote is quite possibly hanging up in every classroom, psychiatry office, and coaches office, right next to the poster of an adorable cat hanging from a branch or rope with the words “Hang In There!” emblazoned at the bottom.

Method Sports and Fitness is now offering a T shirt with a similar quote to “mind over matter” on the front. The shirts read “The Will Must be STRONGER Than The Skill.”, and I like it. Not only is it an interesting design for a shirt, but I believe it takes the idea of “mind of matter” and makes it more closely related to personal performance. Mind over matter can be interpreted a number of different ways. From “It’s all in your head” to “fight through the pain” to “don’t quit” these are all helpful ways to keep someone motivated, but I feel like “the will must be stronger than the skill” does a better job of being educational and not just motivational.

Our shirts are saying that no matter how skilled one is at a task, the will to become better at that task must still be present. Novice or master, if the will to improve is not there no progress will be made.

Good news! Will is something that is 100% IN OUR CONTROL. We can make the choice to dedicate ourselves to spending time practicing and improving. Whether it be hitting a ball, lifting a weight, navigating through calculus equations, or playing a piano. If the will to improve is present and acted upon, improved skill will follow. This is a very similar idea to a blog post a few months ago titled Effort Counts Twice. if you would like to read that post and learn more about how we can make the most of this will to improve click here: “Effort Counts Twice

If you think our new shirts are as cool as I do stop in at Method and get yours today!