Do you ever really listen to yourself? I mean, really listen to yourself.
I recently spoke with a friend who is a professional basketball player overseas, and what he said to me really hit home right in my soul.
He told me about a book that a coach asked him to read that taught him one critical lesson.
How you feel matters.
Simple, right? I wondered how someone in his mid-twenties applied that information and so, I asked him about just that. The depth of his response impressed me even more.
He learned to respect how he feels, but he continues to foster a self-awareness practice through activities like meditation and journaling. He pointed out that this is a key to his success because he’s been able to not only stay true to his vision for his career in tough moments, but he’s also able to use the information to help him slow down and duplicate success.
“When I pay attention, I can learn how to replicate my success. So, I can go back to my journal and look at different experiences,” he said to me.
Keep in mind, this is a person whose career is exploding and in its prime so I think this is another good time to point out that the balance between mental toughness and mental wellness is an advantageous skillset.
Emotional Intelligence (or E.I.) is something that truly is an ongoing process. Life is constantly evolving, and so are you. So, to listen to your emotions, you have to practice doing that regularly throughout your entire life.
Whether you journal, meditate, or however you choose to self-reflect, schedule it into your day. Start with once a week if you have to, but take a page from my friend’s book and ask yourself questions like:
Honest introspection will help you resolve many of the questions that you probably ask about yourself and about life.
Need someone to hold a safe emotional reflection space for you? Join a one-on-one VIP coaching program with me so I can help you work through tough emotions, resolve inner conflict, and transform worries and fears.
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash Learning how to control emotions when you are feeling…
Athletes and professionals alike know the importance of communication skills. It’s easy to talk about…
An elite athlete sports mentality is a concept that I often talk about with my…
Image by marymarkevich on Freepik In our hectic lives, chaos seems like a familiar companion.…
Image by freepik Mental health and performance coaching programs are becoming more sought after by…
Image by garetsvisual on Freepik In the world of sports, where toughness and resilience are…