In coaching, we teach our young athletes to overcome the fear of failure. We all can agree; the fear of failure is something that we all experience throughout our life at different points.
The Fear Of Failure
Fear of failure is letting the possibility of downfalls stop us from achieving new and exciting experiences. It comes from the anxiety of losing rather than performing to win.
To teach them how to overcome the fear of failure, we focus on:
- Have a focus point
- Do one thing at a time
- Focus on what you can control
- Be present
- Start where you are
- Comparison is not your friend
- How do you bounce back after a feeling of failure
- Accept what is
- Learn to bounce back quickly
- Be patient
The American Wrestler
A wrestler fights for every point, one take-down at a time; however, it is less about the scoring points and more about the fundamentals of life and the lessons that the Wrestler discovers as a result of grappling years.
Overcoming insanity
- The first lesson the Wrestler learns is the definition of insanity, “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Corporate trainers widely use Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity in training programs; however, the Wrestler learns about the concept naturally through the practice of the take-downs. When one approach does not work, the Wrestler soon applies a second approach until the chosen approach works.
Failure is an opportunity to win.
- The Wrestler looks at losing as merely the opportunity to change the approach to succeed and understands to dwell in sorrow will only delay the experience of winning.
Through all of it, the Wrestler learns to manage stress, display interpersonal skills, self-regard for others, and an extraordinary level of emotional intelligence.