|
Question: I’ve been getting injured a lot lately, and I’m starting to wonder if
there’s a non-physical cause. Can you help?
Answer: You might be on to something. When you get injured, notice what’s going on in your life in terms of stress. I remember the day I broke my collarbone while mountain biking. I left my house saying, “I need a break.” There was a lot going on in my life, including the birth of one of our children. I went for a ride stressed. My muscles were tight, not as fluid as normal. Stress changes the fluidity of your muscles. It narrows your scope of vision—you’re not as alert. You’re tight in so many ways. Stress distracts us. We get thrown off. But when you’re stressed, you don’t have to stop exercising. If anything, that’s when we need it most. Instead, you need to breathe, relax, and visualize being strong and injury-free. Be in the flow. Don’t let anxiety inhibit what’s natural.
Question: I have a hard time believing in myself. What can I do to change this?
Answer: Most people have confidence issues. We lack confidence when we focus on what we
can’t control—outcomes, results, number of pounds lifted, placing first in your age group. With so many things we can’t control in life, we can build up enormous levels of anxiety. Try to control where your focus is going. Forget results. Let them come as byproducts of controlling what we can. I recommend keying in to five things you can control—I call them the Big Five. For a runner, for example, they might include relaxing your jaw, letting your shoulders hang on your bones, keeping your arm-swing close to your body, and so
on.
|
