Speaking to an Olympic medallist about managing thoughts 🏅
And how we can all learn from this legend!
I was fortunate to meet Olympic medallist Jemima Montag last year after she'd spoken to an audience on her preparations for the upcoming Paris Olympics. When I asked her "what has been the most important skill to learn in her training for the long distance event", her response wasn't about the physical aspects, and instead she talked about thoughts:
1. Thinking
"I used to race 100m, 200m and 400m and was able to block out all negative thoughts completely and focus solely on the race for that short time. But when you're on your own for 90 minutes, it's impossible to shut thoughts out completely, and it's only a matter of time before a negative thought creeps in, especially in high pressure events."
2. Unthinking
"So I'm just aware of these thoughts and I don't respond to them during the race, which makes it easier to come back to my plans and what I need to focus on."
We always have a choice whether to respond to thoughts we have, but first we need to be aware of them. Whether you're in an Olympic race or a meeting at work, there are opportunities to become aware of the thoughts we are having. We don't need to do anything with most of them, so today see if you can catch your self when a thought comes in and just be aware of it - try not to respond or react to it, just notice it's there.
3. Syncing
Another great tip Jemima has is that she does not attach all her big goals to her identity. "It's a careful balance of wanting it and believing in yourself that it's possible, but simultaneously not attaching all your well-being and happiness to that outcome, because ultimately there are so many uncontrollable factors".
Acknowledging that we can't control our environment, no matter how much we train/practice/try, is an essential step to aligning with what's happening, rather than resisting or trying to control everything.
To balance the identity of her athletic achievements, Jemima has other important projects that are aligned with her values, including ‘Play On’, which helps girls stay engaged in sport. You can find out more about this awesome initiative here, and learn about the importance of not getting too attached to outcomes.
What a legend. Congratulations Jemima! 🏅