What does it take to get to the next level? We hear it all the time when sports analysts discuss the need for players to elevate their game. Last night, when Jaroslav Halak stood on his head and spun in circles keeping pucks out of his net, even the most jaded of sports fans had to be impressed. While we can all marvel at the performance of the clearly gifted Habs net minder, last night was probably not a repeatable feat. Despite his super-human efforts, and a few fortunate bounces, we know that he is human, and that performing at that level game after game is a tall order. Or is it?
I would not describe myself as an athlete, but over the years I have competed in some sporting events, notably 5k runs, golf tournaments and soccer playoffs. Whenever I’ve been in a situation when my team or myself was in contention I found myself wondering what was needed to find that extra gear. Often, simply asking the question seemed to make the challenge even greater.
It’s what goes on in that space between our ears that frequently determines what our bodies are capable of doing. It explains why sports psychologists have become such an important part of the training regimen of elite athletes.
There have been times when, seemingly without explanation, I have been able to perform at a level that I previously thought impossible. As a golfer who regularly shoots in the mid to high 90s, I once played a round where inexplicably I shot an 80. When I was a runner in my prime, the maximum distance I could cover with training was 15 kilometres, and yet one evening, for no particular reason, I ran 22 almost effortlessly.
We often experience the same thing outside the realm of sports. Some days our ability to process information and perform our jobs is surprisingly elevated, while other days we can’t remember the password to our computer. What I have found most curious is that when those breakthrough moments come it feels as simple as stepping through a door, as if it was there the entire time.
There are a couple of things I have heard over the years that have proven to be true. One is the realization that when the mojo is going, you don’t question it. The other has to do with preparedness. We often hear the expression that you have to make you own luck. Some might consider this an expression of arrogance, but actually it is far from it.
At some point we have to recognize that not all the bounces are going to go our way. Call it luck, fate, or just coincidence. It is impossible to know how any given set of circumstances will play out. We also have to admit to ourselves that our potential for fallibility is ever present. We screw up, even with things we do with such regularity that we could perform them in our sleep.
It is impossible to counteract these situations; therefore we must have the humility to admit that they are beyond our control. What we can control is our ability to respond when the bounces do go our way, and that comes from being prepared. In sport, preparedness is a direct result of intensive practice, in life it comes from something deeper.
There are a myriad of curves balls that will be thrown at us in our lifetimes. It’s impossible to think we can be prepared for all of them, but we can equip ourselves to respond. It begins with discovering ones own inner strength and courage. This often means taking ownership of failures as much as successes. It is about giving up control as much as our ongoing obsession with gaining control. It is about recognizing what is the right thing to do even when it is neither popular nor easy. It is about developing character that is both confident and secure as well as open-minded and compassionate.
We do this through recognizing the real gifts in our lives. The people who stand by us in difficult circumstances. The moments of celebration, companionship and reconciliation. The value of integrity over avarice.
There is an element of spirituality to this equation as in many ways it involves achieving balance through casting off those trivial things that we consider important in our lives. To give ourselves over to circumstance, or more accurately, get out of our own way, to allow our true selves to shine.
Often our personal ‘next level’ is right there in front of us. The only barrier is letting go and stepping through the door.
Go Habs, Go.
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