Sport Performance.

Have you ever wondered how Novak Djokovic or Michael Phelps overcome their mental block?
Is this skill of breaking through mental blocks only belong to specific people? As many athletes stay stuck, too?
Maybe Yes, Maybe No.

Every athlete, professional and non-professional alike, might have experienced a mental block at a point in time in their sports journey. While some can break through, some remain stuck. So, probably the important question is,” WHAT can we do to break through?”

Let’s start with understanding the “enemy”, Mental Block.

What is a mental block?
Online Cambridge dictionary defines Mental Block as something in our mind that prevents us from understanding or doing. That something is unique to each individual.
For some, it might be fear of losing; for others, it might be the thought of, “I am incapable”.

So, the next question is probably,” WHY that something becomes a block?”
There are many probable causes. It can be as simple as lack of rest, lack of nutrients in our foods, or side-effect of medications. Or, it can be slightly complicated as being surrounded by an anxiety-inducing environment, interacting with people with negative perspectives, having a prior experience in life that causes impostor syndrome, and the list can go on.

Then, “HOW to unblock the mental block?”

Some practical skills that might be helpful are:

• Focus on the PRESENT. As the saying goes, “Past has long gone, Future has yet to come, so we are left with the Present.” Focus on the NOW. Mindfulness practices such as focusing on your senses can help you be in the present moment.  

• Jot it down. Journal your experiences. It can be done by writing or choosing an image to represent the experiences. Besides helping to release the emotions, and help to discover the root of the mental block, it can also help to keep track of your sleep or food.

• Self-Talk & Positive Affirmation. Research has found that self-talk and positive affirmation have a positive impact on Sports Performance (Walter et al., 2019; Nedergaard et al., 2021). Find the affirmation that suits you and intentionally repeated it.

• Visualisation. Studies have found that visualisation in the field of sports has shown an increase in performance (Predoiu, 2020). Visualise what you want to achieve and how you achieve that. Feel the emotions and the process, and see how it will turn out for you.

• Seek Inspiration. Don’t be ashamed. Many others have managed to break the mental block. Learn from their experiences. Find the experiences that suit your style, and try them out.

• Take a break. Recharge! Do something enjoyable, connect with others, and connect with yourself.

• Get some support. Remember that you are not alone. It’s OK not to be OK, so it’s fine to accept help from trusted family and friends.

If the block seems so thick and the overwhelming feeling continues, you might want to talk to a professional (counsellor, psychologist, or psychotherapist). They might be able to help you better in managing the stuckness and give you some clarity.