When I used to coach swimming, I learned there were two types of incredible athletes. The first was the hard worker. These humans showed up to practice with one goal in mind... improve. They had fun with the other swimmers, but expanded their own limits and left everything in the pool. They learned how to push through adversity and overcome failure. They didn't give up easily and weren't deterred by having to work their way up.
The second was the natually talented. These humans made the hard workers sick. Trying even just a little bit put these swimmers miles ahead of the others. Some days they worked, but other days they goofed off, knowing they would still generally come out on top. Some days they tried, but other days they mentally weren't even in the pool. When put up against adversity they often would crumble, pout, or throw a fit. They didn't know how to fail and recover.
Now a naturally talented person can also be a hard worker, but to do it they have to get out of their own head. Most of us are guilty of this at some point in our lives... overthinking something to death, circling around what might happen so much that the perfection drives us insane, preventing us from ever even trying.
Why not learn to fail early and often? Why not just give it a shot and learn from your mistakes? Not that a little planning and strategy isn't also useful, but if you're worn out before you even begin, it's too much. Get out of your head and into the game.
Unsplash Tommaso Fornoni
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