I'm Falling Behind in Wrestling
How do I deal with not being on the mat?
I seriously, seriously appreciate the honesty that girls approach me with when they want advice on injuries. I can just hear in their voices that gut fear of falling behind. From experiencing plenty of the same fear myself, I wanted to give some insight into what it has taken me to come back from an injury and be able to try out for an Olympic Team a few months later.
I think the mental side of being injured doesn't get discussed often enough. For an athlete, we have worked and trained ourselves to be out of our comfort zone. It is only natural that during an injury, we can't turn that side of ourselves off so that our bodies can heal and we can focus on the slow methodical process of rehab. We want to GO. And go hard.
We worry that others are watching and paying attention to what we can and can't do. We envision our opponents wrestling hard and drilling daily. A task that is not currently an option to us. How do we handle these thoughts in our head? How we can in turn, create something positive for ourselves so when it comes time to compete, we are ready?
Understand this is where you are, and re-direct your focus
First things first, you need to work to move past denial. If you keep getting on the mat with an injury and keep hurting yourself, it's time to wake up and smell the roses. You are no longer doing yourself a service by wrestling through your injury.
Injuries are (mostly) out of our control. But the way we decide to let the situation effect us is within our control. If you use a meditation practice or a another great way of escaping and re-focusing your attention (writing, art, music, socializing, etc), use it! I can tell you that the stress and energy you spend worried about what could happen in the future, or if someone is watching what you are doing (or not doing), is much more exhausting and distracting to you psyche. I promise you, everyone is way more focused on themselves. Re-focusing your energy to an activity that is joyful is a-okay, and doesn't change that you are still a tough wrestler. Whatever feelings come up are validated and justified. Notice those feelings, then move forward.
Use this opportunity
It can be a rare opportunity to take a break in the middle of a career or season to focus on other aspects that attribute to wrestling. It can first, be a physical break for your body, and second, a break for your mind. How many times has a coach said, "I wish I knew this when I was competing?" This can be your opportunity to grow mentally and gain perspective in ways you hadn't imagined.
How do I deal with not being on the mat?
I seriously, seriously appreciate the honesty that girls approach me with when they want advice on injuries. I can just hear in their voices that gut fear of falling behind. From experiencing plenty of the same fear myself, I wanted to give some insight into what it has taken me to come back from an injury and be able to try out for an Olympic Team a few months later.
I think the mental side of being injured doesn't get discussed often enough. For an athlete, we have worked and trained ourselves to be out of our comfort zone. It is only natural that during an injury, we can't turn that side of ourselves off so that our bodies can heal and we can focus on the slow methodical process of rehab. We want to GO. And go hard.
We worry that others are watching and paying attention to what we can and can't do. We envision our opponents wrestling hard and drilling daily. A task that is not currently an option to us. How do we handle these thoughts in our head? How we can in turn, create something positive for ourselves so when it comes time to compete, we are ready?
Understand this is where you are, and re-direct your focus
First things first, you need to work to move past denial. If you keep getting on the mat with an injury and keep hurting yourself, it's time to wake up and smell the roses. You are no longer doing yourself a service by wrestling through your injury.
Injuries are (mostly) out of our control. But the way we decide to let the situation effect us is within our control. If you use a meditation practice or a another great way of escaping and re-focusing your attention (writing, art, music, socializing, etc), use it! I can tell you that the stress and energy you spend worried about what could happen in the future, or if someone is watching what you are doing (or not doing), is much more exhausting and distracting to you psyche. I promise you, everyone is way more focused on themselves. Re-focusing your energy to an activity that is joyful is a-okay, and doesn't change that you are still a tough wrestler. Whatever feelings come up are validated and justified. Notice those feelings, then move forward.
Use this opportunity
It can be a rare opportunity to take a break in the middle of a career or season to focus on other aspects that attribute to wrestling. It can first, be a physical break for your body, and second, a break for your mind. How many times has a coach said, "I wish I knew this when I was competing?" This can be your opportunity to grow mentally and gain perspective in ways you hadn't imagined.
