<Peak Level> When Your Performance or Life Sucks; Try This....
Performing At Peak Levels In Sport & Life
Hello Team,
A quick trip back down memory lane.
I received a career-ending injury in my late twenties, resulting with a disability.
I don’t feel much from the knee down in my left leg. I am unable to move my foot or toes upward, and my knee is a mess; IT SUCKS
A couple of years after the injury, my dad received a message about a clinic that make a silicone foot brace.
The purpose of the brace is to help people have more mobility.
I’m Up for that…
The clinic was in Dorset, England a four-hour drive for me.
It was a four hour drive of feeling sorry for myself.
The reality that I would never play the game I loved; SUCKED.
I would never be able to play the sports I loved: SUCKED.
Not being able to walk properly again, and will always have a limp: SUCKED.
Tripping up and falling over every day: SUCKED.
Further operations: SUCKED.
Having to wear a brace for life: SUCKED.
I could go on, but you get the idea, lots SUCKED!
We arrived as the clinic was opening, and waited in reception for my appointment.
I was glancing through the display cabinets, to see all kinds of prosthetic limbs; amazed at their life-like quality.
The doors to the clinic open and I observe a young girl being pushed through in a wheelchair, her big smile and energy was contagious.
It was heartbreaking to see she had no lower limbs, yet she was so happy and jolly.
A moment later someone else came in with limbs missing.
I never felt so out of place. Here I was feeling sorry for myself, because of my injury and it was nothing to what others had or were going through.
Get a grip; Damo….
A reality check; that there is always something or someone worse off!
I was focused on comparing myself to who I was, and what I used to do, and it shouldn’t be this way.
My injured leg, sucked!
Compared to what? not having a leg! I was lucky I got to play, travel and meet amazing people.
When things suck; Try this…
Compared To What?
We can change our perspective and outlook in moment using the three magic words:
Compared To What?
Thank you for being here and I look forward to meeting you again soon.
In your corner
With Fire
Coach, Damian Neill
They say comparison is the thief of joy. But this shows that it can actually be the instigator of joy, if you use it differently.
Another thing I like to try is to imagine that this thing that sucks is actually for my benefit. And remind myself that I don't know how this thing I wouldn't have chosen could be the thing that transforms me and my life into something beautiful and better than had I not experienced it.
I know it can seem a little glass half-full, but hey - if I'm gonna have a glass it may as well be half-full, ya know?