It’s time to say goodbye to 2022 and hello to 2023. This time of year, most people take a few minutes to pause and reflect on what they’ve accomplished this year. Then, they create a resolution for the upcoming year. Without a doubt, one of the most common resolutions is related to getting in shape. You make sure that you are physically in shape, but what are you doing to ensure that you are in shape mentally?

Be fearless. Suck it up. No pain, no gain. Just do it.

It’s always presented as the gold standard, the thing that you are supposed to aim for and become. The best of the best athletes are fearless. They can enter into a competition and stare it down.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. The importance of being fearless is a LIE. Fearlessness occurs only when you have zero things to fear. And any time you enter into the competition area, you run the risk of losing. The fact that there is a risk means that fear will also exist. There is uncertainty in sport which turns into doubt and fear. You can’t be certain that you will get a hit, make that field goal, or win the game. It’s this uncertainty and the chance to have success in the face of the risk, that makes us love sports.

Sports have traditions. Chatter from the other team and from fans is one of them. But the reality is that this “chatter” that happens outside of the athlete rarely has much impact on their performance. Instead, it is the internal chatter, the thoughts that swirl around in an athlete’s head that lead to their downfall.

The internal chatter is one of the most common battles that I help athletes face. While the opposing team may have stopped all of the noise, that noise never ceases within the athlete’s mind. This internal chatter is a nuisance. It’s distracting, unhelpful, and takes up WAY too much room in your mind. Ready to break free and make that internal chatter fade away?

Mental toughness is focused on outcomes. It’s about doing more of what you’ve already been doing, even though it didn’t work the first or second or third times. It’s outdated. Instead, aim for Mental Mobility. Mental Mobility focuses on developing the strength and flexibility so that you have options to overcome any obstacle that you face.

Performing under pressure is a task that athletes must master if they are to reach the highest levels. Understanding where the pressure comes from and how to train for it is critical.