Right here right now: WI edition
When asked about the fact that he’s headed into a contract year, Green Bay Packers TE Robert Tonyan said, “I haven’t even thought about it. I’m living in the now.” His quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, who expressed frustration with the team, considered retirement and was the subject of trade talks during the offseason. He was given the chance to address the team on the first day of practice. “The only thing we have is this year. Let’s go out and make it a great one and not think about the future; let’s be present and just be with each other,” said the future hall of famer.
Athletes who are dwelling on the past (e.g., performance errors) or looking forward to future events (e.g., a new contract or the outcome of an event) are not focused on what is needed to succeed in the here and now. In order to be present on the field, athletes should practice present moment strategies such as mindfulness off the field. Doing so better prepares the athlete to be aware of his or her thoughts and circumstances (Brown, Ryan, & Creswell, 2007) as unnecessary distractions linked to past or future events are momentarily suspended (Kee, & Wang, 2008).
Mindfulness not only builds better athletes, but according to another “Wisconsinite,” it is a proven way to demonstrate leadership. According to 2020 NBA Champion and Finals MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, “when you focus on the past, that’s your ego (e.g., I did this, we were able to, etc.), and when you think about the future, that’s your pride (e.g., I’m going to dominate the next game). I try to focus on the current moment; and that’s called humility. It’s a skill I’ve tried to perfect and master.”
The Green Bay Packers have reached the NFC Championship two years in a row, the Milwaukee Bucks just claimed the NBA title, and as I write, this article the Milwaukee Brewers are in first place in their division. The state of Wisconsin is sure enjoying success. It’s a good thing their players seem to be present enough to enjoy it!
To improve your performance or to learn more about developing the skill of Mindfulness, please feel free to reach out to me via email at rln10@zips.uakron.edu . I would love to learn about or help you in your journey!
Coach Nelson holds a doctorate in sport and performance psychology and currently serves as a high school football coach, trainer for the positive coaching alliance (PCA) and adjunct faculty member at Grand Canyon University. He has worked for multiple professional sport franchises, a Fortune 100 Company, a division 1 athletic departments and has won numerous awards for his LEADership abilities.His mission is to positively influence the world through Love, Effort, Attitude and Discipline (#LEAD).
PCA: https://www.positivecoach.org/team/nelson-levi/
References
Brown, K. W., Ryan, R. M., & Creswell, J. D. (2007). Mindfulness: Theoretical Foundations and Evidence for its Salutary Effects. Psychological Inquiry, 18(4), 211–237. doi:10.1080/10478400701598298
Kee, Y. H., & Wang, C. J. (2008). Relationships between mindfulness, flow dispositions and mental skills adoption: A cluster analytic approach. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 9(4), 393–411. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2007.07.001
