One can get stuck because of the fear of giving oneself a goal that one doubts is up to one’s abilities. Or for the pursuit of executing the perfect performance, taking refuge behind excuses that legitimize our choice: “I am not able to cope with this training“, “I don’t have time to train properly“, “I don’t have the physique, the age“, “My work keeps me too busy and I don’t have enough energy left to train“.
When you start preparing to reach a goal, whether it is to run a marathon, a half marathon, a 10km, a trail or an ultra trail you have to take two factors into account: you will need a lot of commitment and a spirit of sacrifice without having absolute certainty that your efforts will be rewarded with the achievement of the goal.
We run the risk of failure, and our subconscious cannot stand that. Therefore, the brain will put defense mechanisms in place to preserve our ego and make sure it is not hurt. Psychological blocks are triggered that “protect” us from potential disappointment but do not make us question ourselves.
How to get rid of mental blocks?
It is not possible to get rid of it because it is a deeply ingrained mechanism in our brains that characterizes us as human beings. We can, however, learn to recognize them and especially to ignore the little voice that will suggest we throw in the towel and let it go.
5 mental blocks that keep you from achieving your goals
- The fear of failure
One learns much more from a failure than from a victory. It is an exaggeration of the concept that nevertheless corresponds to an absolute truth. A defeat puts you in front of your weaknesses for example. Every mistake made has an origin and a cause. Realizing why you did wrong will allow you to isolate that behavior so that you will not repeat it in the future. Learning from mistakes develops the ability to never give up. If you are unable to acquire this skill, failure will be for naught. Thus, failure can be identified as a key element of sports success.
Moreover, having to deal with failure is an opportunity to get your feet back firmly on the ground and reshape the size of your ego if it has gotten a little too “pumped up.” Defeat strikes a blow to your pride, and this forces you to question yourself again. At this point you can decide whether to blow it and give up or to try a different approach and try again.
- The judgment of others
It is a double-edged sword. The judgment of others can strengthen self-esteem and motivation to act as well as can be a powerful source of stress and psychological pressure.
Motivation has a dual component:
- intrinsic, driven by the individual’s interest and pleasure in performing the action;
- Extrinsic, transmitted by an external factor.
It is essential that action is always driven primarily by intrinsic motivation, which starts with you. Extrinsic motivation is a plus that should be used to your advantage as an incentive to achieve your goal and rejoice in your achievements together with those you want and love.
- Fear of the unknown
To get what you have never had, you will have to do what you have never done. This involves confronting an element not particularly dear to human beings: uncertainty.
Training is about learning to master a wide range of situations that you might find yourself facing in competition. There will always be something that might get out of your control, but with calm and cool heads you can call on the lessons you have learned in the preparation period. The important thing is not to panic.
Some athletes, both professionals and amateurs, have certain pre-competition rituals that they enact to try to defuse tension as well as for pure superstition and superstition. These rituals also serve to cope with uncertainty.
Uncertainty is, in one respect, what keeps us alive. Locking yourself into a set routine that gives no room for change and novelty would make you a prisoner and hinder your progress.
- The lack of security
Lack of confidence in oneself and one’s abilities can be the source of many mental blocks in running.
Sports is a very powerful tool for building and strengthening self-confidence: through physical activity and movement, one can improve one’s appearance, posture, but also knowledge and awareness of physical and mental abilities and strength. Through movement, fear of judgment, feelings of inferiority, inability to assert oneself and perfectionism will be combated.
- The ego
The ego is seen as the foundation of personality, especially in the psychological realm, or as an obstacle to personal development, relative to a more spiritual realm.
Ego is often given a negative connotation, but it can also be the one who will convince you that you can meet any challenge you set for yourself, not as a superman or superwoman, but as a person who has gone to great lengths to achieve his or her goal.
In itself, ego is neither good nor bad. Whether to bring out its “negative” or “positive” side will depend only on you and your actions and intentions. If harnessed wisely, ego can be a great strength as well as a great weakness.