Pain is my Friend
Here's a tidbit from the free webinar I'll be doing on July 20th and 21st (to register for one of these webinars, see below).
How exertion pain affects performance is largely a matter of perception. Some athletes interpret pain as a sign of weakness, evidence of poor fitness, or a signal to slow down. They feel frustrated and discouraged, and berate themselves for not doing better. These negative thoughts and feelings only increase the perception of pain. For these athletes, pain is their enemy. On the other hand, some athletes interpret exertion pain as a sign that they are going hard, getting tougher, and coming closer to achieving their goals. They feel motivated and inspired by their persistence and tenacity. These positive thoughts and feelings not only diminish their perception of pain, they also increase confidence, motivation and focus. For these athletes, pain is their friend.
Changing your perception of pain can be learned, but it takes practice. During your next hard training block, be aware of what you say to yourself when you start to feel exertion pain. Practice changing negative thoughts to more positive ones, like "The pain means I'm getting stronger" or "Keep pushing; this is where my training pays off." Feel the pride and excitement of rising to the challenge. These positive thoughts and feelings will help you make friends with your pain, and help your pain make you better.
FREE WEBINAR: "Escape the Hurt Locker: Imagery and Self-Talk for Endurance Athletes"
Join me for this FREE WEBINAR and master practical, easy-to-learn imagery and thought control techniques to help you:
- Fight through exertion pain,
- Strengthen your intensity,
- Turn your suffering into an advantage, and
- Stay focused and motivated for peak performance.
To register, click on one of the links below:
Monday, July 20, 2009 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM EDT
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/644249395
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EDT
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/498306043
