Irrational Beliefs That Athletes Fall Prey To
Albert Ellis is famous for conceiving irrational beliefs most, if not all, humans fall prey to during their lives. Let's examine some with the context of sports in mind; reframes will be provided below each irrational belief.
Everyone has to love me for everything I do - seeking approval from others is of the utmost importance.
Earn your own self-respect first, focus on expressing love for others rather than chasing it from everyone. Undervalue the love and admiration you seek from strangers (fans).
Certain acts are awful or wicked, and people who perform such acts should be punished.
People are not perfect and succumb to stress, emotionally informed decisions. Athletes should be given grace for making a mistake, whether its a lapse in focus on the field or an outburst in the locker room.
It is horrible when things are not the way we want them to be.
Acceptance of imperfect conditions alleviates significant mental distress. Stay level-headed to see any opportunities that can be gleaned from adversity, and understand how you can prepare and control the outcome next time.
Misery is caused by others and external events.
External events are neutral until they enter your mental filter. Then, they gain a status of "bad" or "good." Manage the intensity of the lows by working to enhance your perspective.
We should be upset and obsess over something dangerous or fearsome.
You can see a theme emerge at this point - the way you talk to yourself and interpret external events drives your emotional state. Gain distance from your self-talk through tools like journaling and mindfulness.
It is easier to avoid than to face life's difficulties and responsibilities.
While this makes for an easy decision in the moment (lack of action necessary), you know you'll regret it down the line. Additionally, impact bias tells us things tend to not be as bad as they seem. Motivation is also jump-started through action. Use these ideas to reframe self-talk when avoidance is tempting.
We need to rely on something or someone stronger than us to achieve success.
Think of this factor, like a coach or a favorable matchup, as just that - a factor. Factors do not dominate the outcome, though. It is merely one piece of the puzzle. Consider other pieces, like the time you've spent preparing, your mental game, and engaging your social support to bolster your perceived chances of success.
We should be accomplishing and competent in all respects.
No one becomes a champion without making mistakes, yet many people forget about this while they are mired in the frustration of making mistakes (like learning something new, for example). Use this piece of knowledge to cope with mistakes: your brain adapts and learns better as the result of mistakes. People who stay within their comfort zone, and makes less mistakes as a result, might not learn as quickly as their comfort zone-leaving teammate.
One mistake or event that strongly affected me should affect me the rest of my life.
Time heals all wounds, but you can speed this process up by talking about these events, journaling, and restructuring your interpretation over it. Ideally, the event becomes a learning experience.
We must have perfect control over everything.
The world is full of improbability and chance, yet we can still enjoy life and succeed at sports despite this. When you find yourself focused on factors outside of your control, notice this happening, then refocus on factors within your control, like your attitude, preparation, and effort.
Happiness can be achieved through inaction and chance.
Sure, but you're severely limiting your chances. Instead, take initiative by pursuing goals and activities that resonate with your core values and are inherently enjoyable.
We have no control over our emotions.
We can influence emotions by changing behaviors and thoughts. When your self-talk is filled with "musts," shoulds," and other rigid, perfectionism based narratives, your influence is limited.
Irrational beliefs plague everyone, especially athletes when the pressure is on. There is so much at stake for athletes every time they hit the field, one or more of these irrational beliefs show up. Education and awareness on these beliefs coupled with the discipline to change the narrative will do wonders for your focus and stress management, leading to better performances and a more enjoyable career.
