Olympic-Level Self-Talk, and the One Word that Makes All the Difference
Did you take some time this past week to watch a few events from the Olympic Games in Tokyo?
If you did, then you would have seen the things we love to see about sport, and Olympic sports in particular. Athletes in their prime physical condition, for example. (Look no further than the abdominal muscles of the track and field sprinters for a case in point!) Then there was the underdog contestant swimming a negative split in lap 30 of 30 in a display of stamina that still gives me goosebumps as I type. And there were the competitors in the arena, event after event, doing what they were either born or conditioned to the extreme to do.
These examples will fuel my personal tank of motivation – for physical fitness, that is – for the foreseeable future. This year the Olympic Games were especially poignant as I watched them alongside my 80 year-old Dad, who taught me everything he knows (which is a lot) about athletic grace.
If our shared love of sport were a story, then the Olympics would be our picture book, illustrated this year by those sprinters’ muscular structure and that swimmer’s strokes during laps 29 and 30. (Again with the goosebumps.)
But this year, for as visually appealing as those illustrations are, I was also curious about the parts of an athlete that we can’t actually see with our eyes, that nonetheless strongly influence the athletes’ appearance and their performance.
I’m referring to their self-talk, to their internal dialogue that directs them to show up for the sixth 5 am practice at the pool this week, for example, or to hold plank for 90 seconds longer or to take 27 more practice shots on goal after everyone else has left the arena.
As Dad and I watched the Olympic athletes this year, I got curious about what we couldn’t see about these people at the very top of their games.
That’s the thing about self-talk. It’s off-camera. It’s subconscious. It isn’t visible, yet there is no action without it. Self-talk is happening right now, as you read and as I type. Self-talk has also been with those Olympic athletes their whole lives as well.
So what’s the difference between their self-talk and ours?
I think it has to do with one word, and that is “will.” Not in the sense of determination (though there is a lot of that, certainly) but more in the sense of taking action at some point in the future versus right now.
As in, “I am winning” (Olympian) versus “I will win.”
Or, “I am determined” (Olympian) versus “I will be determined.”
Or, “I start” (Olympian) versus “I will start tomorrow.”
You see the pattern, I’m sure: There is self-talk that is happening in the present moment (Olympian-caliber), that moves someone between their cozy bed and the swimming pool for a 5 am start of practice. And then there is self-talk that will happen in the indeterminate future.
That’s a world of difference, especially when we apply it to our daily lives and day-to-day work.
“My mental health is a priority” versus “I will make my mental health a priority later this month.”
“I value the time with my kids right now” versus “I will value the time with my kids when COVID is over.”
“My life will be so much better when I get that other job” versus “My life is very blessed right now in all of these ways.”
That one word – “will” – might seem like a subtle linguistic adjustment, but its impact far exceeds its size.
What are some shifts in self-talk that you could make in your daily lives? We don’t need to be an Olympian to do it, but I believe it’s one of the greatest (unseen, off-camera) tools that Olympians practice every day.
We can use it, too, to fuel our personal tanks of motivation.
Please let us know how it goes for you.
Namaste,
Cathy
What We're Reading:
Here's what has piqued our interest this week in the world of wine and mindfulness.
I'm A Burnout Coach, And These Are The 3 Types Of Clients I've Seen The Most In 2021, by Rachelle Stone on YourTango.com
Many deny they are in burnout when they are, while others just have no idea until it's affecting their physical and/or mental health.
Why Aren’t Bar Pros Returning to Work? A Lack of Empathy, by Tyler Zielinski for Beverage Industry Enthusiast
In addition to pressing issues like health risks, low pay and lack of benefits, some hospitality professionals hesitate to return to their old jobs due to a dearth of empathy in the field.
Pernod Ricard Wants You to Drink More (Water, That Is), by Alexandra Tardine for AdAge
Alcohol brands don't generally encourage you to drink more in their marketing these days (at least not in an overt way). But Pernod Ricard is doing that in its latest campaign. Only the liquid in question is not the hard stuff but plain old H2O.
Office-Friendly Mindful Movement and Breath Techniques, by Larissa Hall Carlson for MindfulLeader.org
Discover simple, safe, effective movements to relieve physical tension and reduce stress at the office. Larissa's clear instructions, thoughtful sequencing, and soothing approach will empower you to take these mindful chair and standing practices back home with you and share with your colleagues.
Happiness and work: An interview with Lord Richard Layard, by McKinsey & Company
The preeminent happiness researcher shares some surprising results on connecting well-being, mental health, and how employers can play a role in improving our lives at work.
Meet the Community!
Here we meet some of the talented folks who make our community profession so dynamic.
Katherine Shapiro, DipWSET, South Sound Account Manager, Mark Ryan Winery, and podcast host, Tacoma, Washington (USA)
Years in the Industry:
I have spent over 20 years in the restaurant industry; including work as a sommelier, in a tasting room and running a wine bar. I am a proud holder of the WSET Diploma with Merit. I’m a seasoned wine writer and have a deep understanding of viticulture, winemaking, marketing and styles of the world of wines. My day job is in sales for a popular winery in Washington State and I have served as an international wine judge. ZenWine is a podcast I created that shares nuggets of wellness, through the lens of wine. I deeply connect to the up-and-coming, the under- appreciated and the under-valued regions and wines of the world. I teach how to elevate your vibe through wine.
My Top Three Challenges to Wellness:
The biggest challenge to wellness is balancing family life and career with self-care and 8 hours of sleep a night. The truth is that I need to carve out time every day to sit in silence, and move my body. The demands of being a mother and being deeply passionate about my work can be a challenge. The busier I get, the more I need to use the tools of my wellness practices.
Another challenge is being in an industry that glamorizes over-consumption. I have been working on knowing my limits with consumption, which has evolved into more tasting and less consuming.
Another challenge is my own conditioning, anxiety and limiting beliefs that I am never good enough or that I “should” be farther along in my career. The challenge for me is to be confident and keep going.
How I Keep It Together to Stay Well:
I practice meditation, yoga, spin, HIIT, hiking and dance as my movement routine. I am learning to honor and take cues from my body, mind and heart. I taught yoga and meditation on and off for 3 years and meditate daily with both my daughters (which is beyond thrilling!). To me, movement is medicine and listening to my intuition is a big guiding factor in my daily decision making.
What Inspires Me:
Wine is how I find fulfillment and what inspires me most is the people that make wine possible. Wine can be a vessel for learning so much about life and humanity. It’s my goal and pleasure to seek purpose, passion and resilience, through wine.
A Quote I Love:
“You, me or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” - Rocky Balboa
You can find Kat’s podcast on Spotify at ZenWine and follow her on Instagram.
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