Picture yourself getting a haircut at your local barber. You’re relaxed, sitting back, and enjoying the moment. All of a sudden you start to feel an itch on your forehead. You immediately take your hand from under the barber’s cape and scratch that itch. You feel the immediate relief from scratching that itch. However, the itch comes back again and again and again.
Have you ever sat in that barber chair and left that itch alone? I have. You may be surprised to find out that the itch goes away.
The idea of scratching that itch is a metaphor that can be applied to different avenues of life, including sports. Studletes who are training to become great experience uncomfortable (itchy-like) feelings all the time. The difference between those who break-though and become great and those who don’t, is the ability to stay.
Staying calm, cool, and collected under pressure or stress.
Staying with your training regiment despite feeling tired or sore.
Staying on a team even though you’ve experienced some adversity.
Staying consistent with your study habits, despite getting one bad grade on a test.
Learning to stay, isn’t about staying the same or taking short cuts to mask temporary discomfort. It’s about consistently staying with the habits and in a mind-set that will make you the best you can be.
