{"id":19754,"date":"2019-06-17T15:30:25","date_gmt":"2019-06-17T22:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.triathloncanada.com\/?p=19754"},"modified":"2019-06-17T15:32:12","modified_gmt":"2019-06-17T22:32:12","slug":"comment-surmonter-votre-peur-de-lechec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.triathloncanada.com\/fr\/comment-surmonter-votre-peur-de-lechec\/","title":{"rendered":"Comment surmonter votre peur de l’\u00e9chec"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u00a0TAYLOR THOMAS<\/span><\/h3>\n
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As athletes, we\u2019re presented with countless opportunities to fail\u2014and that\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Learning to process, cope, and accept failure is important for everyone \u2014 but it\u2019s essential for athletes, as we\u2019re constantly presented with opportunities (from races to workouts) to fail. Ideally, athletes will come to accept that failure is a valuable part of life and sport, but\u00a0many fear failure\u00a0<\/a>instead.<\/p>\n

In your training, have you ever noticed that you fall into patterns of bad attitude, missed workouts, damaging eating habits, or excuses related to less-than-ideal performance? Could these be linked to a more deeply-rooted fear of failure? Here\u2019s how to mentally commit despite the potential for failure, and\u00a0maintain the strong mental game<\/a>\u00a0required for athletic success.<\/p>\n

Why Are You Afraid to Fail?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First and foremost, ask yourself, \u201cwhat makes me afraid of failure?\u201d The answer to this question, if you\u2019re honest, can reveal both the root cause of your fear and the first step in getting over it.<\/p>\n

For example, fear of failure often stems from a fear of letting down friends, family, coaches, or anyone who has a vested interest in your success. Athletes put in countless hours training, and the higher their level of commitment, the more support that individual will require from their support network. This can create a\u00a0crushing sense of pressure to perform<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other athletes fear failure because they have unrealistic expectations for themselves, are seeking external validation, or fear giving up control in competition. Whatever your reason, uncovering the root cause of your attitude towards failure is paramount in achieving your goals.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Gotten in Your Way Before?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Once you\u2019ve figured out (and hopefully addressed!)\u00a0the cause of your fear of failure,<\/a>\u00a0you can use past setbacks to find ways to propel yourself forward instead of holding yourself back. These past experiences can be valuable tools when untangling and learning from a perceived failure.<\/p>\n

For example, sometimes it feels easier to get in our own way than to face the fact that failure is a real possibility. Have you ever found yourself \u201cfailing\u201d before you\u2019ve truly failed? Maybe you trained too hard, or you let logistics get the best of you, or sabotaged your nutrition, knowing you wouldn\u2019t be at your best on race day. Honestly addressing the factors that contributed to a failure can help you learn from them and use them positively.<\/p>\n

Tools for Mental Health<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We all deal with fear and doubt, but successful athletes have an arsenal of practices to help confront negative circumstances and maintain a positive attitude. Once you\u2019ve found the root cause of your fear of failure, and taken steps to address common setbacks you\u2019ve run into, you\u2019ve got to maintain a good relationship with the potential for failure in your life. Use these simple tools to keep yourself on the right track:<\/p>\n

BE RELENTLESSLY POSITIVE<\/h3>\n

Positive self-talk is always a good place to start. This helps solidify positive thinking, and in turn, can lead to positive performance. Whether you\u2019re in the middle of a workout, telling a friend about it, or even just looking at your calendar,\u00a0be relentlessly positive<\/a>\u00a0about your training and racing \u2014 and watch your failures become valuable lessons.<\/p>\n

MAKE REASONABLE GOALS<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s important to ensure your training approach is appropriate for your ability level, goals, and schedule. Tackling workouts that are too difficult, not timed properly, or that don\u2019t take other responsibilities into consideration can quickly dig yourself into a deep hole. Failure is a part of every process, but\u00a0setting yourself up for success<\/a>\u00a0goes a long way as well.<\/p>\n

CHOOSE YOUR TRAINING PARTNERS WISELY<\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t think you\u2019re alone in these struggles! A strong support group is critical to your success and longevity in endurance sports. Positive, resilient friends, training partners, and coaches can be the difference between a healthy and unhealthy athlete. They can also be great sources of inspiration \u2014 look to people you admire for examples on handling failure.<\/p>\n

Facing failure is hard. It\u2019s a challenge athletes and non-athletes both struggle with on a daily basis. The pressure to perform can be a motivating tool, but if not cultivated properly, it can easily turn into a debilitating fear of failure. Use your own experiences to become mentally stronger and set up opportunities for success. Surround yourself with positive and supportive people who believe in you and your direction. Very few things in life are guaranteed, so accepting the possibility of failure can remove some of the pressure we put on ourselves and allow us to focus on productive routes forward.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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