Using Values to Help You Swim Freely

Do you ever feel like you're drowning in your own thoughts and emotions when you're

competing? Like you're so caught up in your head that you can't focus on your performance?

Or maybe you're so afraid of making a mistake that you end up playing it safe and not reaching

your full potential? Or perhaps you're so focused on the outcome of the competition that you

forget to enjoy the process?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you're not alone. Many athletes struggle

with these same issues. But there is a way to overcome them. It's called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

ACT is a type of therapy that helps people to accept their thoughts and emotions without

judgment. It also helps people to identify their values and to take action that is in line with those

values.

In the context of sports psychology, ACT can be used to help athletes to:

● Accept their thoughts and emotions without judgment.

● Identify their values.

● Take action that is in line with their values.

● Focus on the present moment.

● Let go of the need to control the outcome.

● Enjoy the process of competing.

How Can ACT Help Me in My Sport?

One of the key concepts in ACT is the idea of "swimming freely." This means being able to

move through your thoughts and emotions without getting caught up in them. It's like being a

fish in the water. You can swim freely without being weighed down by your thoughts and

emotions.

So how can you learn to swim freely? Here are a few tips:

1. Identify your values. What is important to you in your sport? What kind of athlete do you

want to be?

2. Set goals that are in line with your values. This will help you to stay motivated and

focused.

3. Practice mindfulness. This will help you to become more aware of your thoughts and

emotions.

4. Accept your thoughts and emotions without judgment. This doesn't mean that you

have to like them. It just means that you don't have to let them control you.

5. Take action that is in line with your values. This is the most important step. It's not

enough to just identify your values. You need to take action that is consistent with those

values.

What Can I Do Now?

If you're interested in learning more about how ACT can help you in your sport, I encourage you

to book in a session with Kurt Young, our resident Sport Psychologist at Elite Edge Performance Psychology.