The forest greeted me this morning with many newly fallen leaves. The birds were quiet and the deer did not care that I was there. I completely enjoyed the beautiful calmness. After a few minutes passed, I began to question why do I also enjoyed the exact opposite sensations –> the unmistakable heart racing craziness of competition?
What does game day mean for me? Ranking has limited value outside of sponsorship and team selections. There is no valid accomplishment in beating someone who holds a different level of experience, health or motivation. It has nothing to do with who else is there except from a socializing perspective. So what is it then I love about competing?
I see competition as a testing arena –> I get curious about something. Test it in training only gets me so far. I need to compete to find clarity and to understand if it really works. Then I go and get curious about something else…
This feedback loop produces zero anxiety because it is all about being curious. It allows me to enjoy going to competitions because of what I learn, not what I win.
Perhaps I have added kettle ball swings, or a new yoga position or done more slow-perfect shots compared to speed play games… maybe I have been working on a tiny technique change or made an adjustment to my equipment (do not use new stuff at competition!). Every game day performance is a chance to see what works.
Evaluations are based on the endurance of new techniques, finding logical reasons for anything that happens, and accepting what can or cannot be controlled on that specific day. No two competitions are alike. Everything is about learning. When I understand something, it creates clarity and then confidence and then more curiosity about what comes next.
Becoming curious means challenging what I know or how something can be better. If I am not curious about anything, then I am not challenging what it means to be my best.
The next time you are anxious, annoyed, un-motivated, de-motivated or simply bored with training or competing, get a little curious about something. See what you can do to find the answer. Then share it –> if you think it might help someone else.
Never do I shoot without a question to be answered.
I always ask, what happens if…?
