Training Your Mind: How to Master the Pain of Effort in Sports
Learning to manage the pain of effort is a trainable skill.
In my work with athletes, pain is a frequent topic. Not the pain of injury, but the pain that accompanies pushing toward our physical limits.
Contrary to the popular wisdom, pain it is not about physical damage. Whether a dental procedure, or a violent acceleration in a race, is perceived as tolerable or unbearable depends heavily on our beliefs about our safety and resilience.
The level of trust inspired by a coach can therefore have enormous influence on how we respond to these experiences. Knowing this is a key step in working with, rather than against, pain.
