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Fear and the Athlete by Kapil Gupta, M.D.

12/3/2013

 
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I have never seen an athlete who did not live in fear. He walks with it. He sleeps with it. It has become so much a part of him that he does not know where his self stops and the fear begins.

Some consultants call it anxiety. Others call it pressure. You can call it what you like. For me, it is fear. Its power is enormous. It is as old as man.



The performance community, coaches, psychologists, and the athletes themselves are intent upon creating massive walls to shield the athlete from it. These walls come in various forms: rituals, aphorisms, routines, self-talk. 

Legions of athletes subscribe to them. Who can blame them? It is natural to arm yourself against such a fastidious force.

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Who can blame the coaches and the psychologists? 

For they are simply trying to protect their athletes from this tremendous force. In fact, I applaud their tenacity and commitment.

My only question is: why continue to fight a war that you cannot possibly win?

In fighting against fear, the athlete will only enslave himself. In using clever tricks, he will only delude himself. 

The reason that man fights is because he shies away from the ultimate battle: The battle of understanding.

 Where is the coach that is willing to explore the nature of fear?

Where is the athlete who is willing to explore, once and for all, what PRECISELY it is that he is afraid of?

The answer may surprise him.

Kapil Gupta, M.D.

DrGupta@siddhaperformance.com
www.siddhaperformance.com            




Andrew
13/3/2013 12:51:34 am

Kapil, I have explored what it is I am afraid of and asked myself some questions.
Am I present to the task?, being totally immersed in what is happening,
or is my mind divided (by fear of outcome, failure, how you will look or be judged amongst your peers etc.) Am I giving the shot my complete attention? a hallmark of optimum states of learning and performance, Complete means 100%. This means no attention left over to evaluate how am I doing ( No doubt No fear ) while I am doing. Complete attention means total engagement.
I am not afraid in the present, nothing is happening to me. But beyond the actual moment there is a deeper layer in the mind which is consciously or unconsciously thinking of what might happen in the future (my score, will I qualify etc.) or worrying about a shot that happened in the past ( I played a bad hook last time). Therefore my question now is, is it possible for me to PLAY! golf completely, totally, in the present?
This is the real secret of golf - to be completely engaged with what I am doing in the here and now.

RBIm Developer link
13/3/2013 11:49:26 am

if that goes on your not in the present.
To be in the present moment you need to do two things at the same time within the specified context and you can do that without finding out whatever your afriad off as it wont be a factor when you do that.

trying to shield fear dont work.

Kapil Gupta, M.D.
13/3/2013 04:18:47 pm

Andrew,

I think an important question to ask is why one wishes to be engaged and present in the first place. The mind has a way of using lofting principles as vehicles for fulfilling its incessant cravings.Thank for your response.

Andrew
14/3/2013 02:54:36 am

Ahh.. wanting, trying to be in the present, rather than being.. .demand nothing, want nothing, seek nothing, expect nothing....like tying a shoelace?

Andrew
14/3/2013 07:34:10 am

I think an important question to ask is why one wishes to be engaged and present in the first place.
Initially I thought it would make me a better golfer,but lately it seems to have gone beyond that.


Comments are closed.

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