Remember, you need to fall in order to soar

    "The major difference between elite (figure) skaters and their less elite counterparts is not to be found in genetics, personality or family background. Rather, it is to be found in the type of practice. Elite skaters regularly attempt jumps beyond their current capabilities; less elite skaters do not. . . The conclusion is as counterintuitive as it is revealing: top skaters fall more often. . . . Progress is built, in effect, upon the foundation of necessary failure. That is the essential paradox of expert performance."
~ Mathew Syed taken from his book "Bounce" (p. 85)

  So often we beat ourselves up when we make a mistake, and even chose to take smaller and smaller risks to minimize our failure.  What we miss in doing so is that failure is a necessary part of success.  Throughout nature it is the failures, or breakdowns, that lead to breakthroughs in results.  Take the forest fire for example: it is completely destructive, however at the same time gives the necessary nutrients to grow the forest stronger.  Or, the micro-tears in your muscles in response to your training which signal the brain to re-build the muscles stronger to support your required load.  Breakdown is necessary to create excellence in results.

  I was speaking with one of my athletes this morning, and I challenged her to strive for perfection, but not to expect it.  And, above all else, to embrace her daily training failures as a necessary step in her pursuit of gymnastics excellence.  Her response was that it took a weight off her shoulders - to allow her to push towards her dreams by attempting skills that are "beyond [her] current capabilities" (Syed, p. 85), yet at the same time give her the space to make mistakes.

   Where in your life can you give yourself this space?  Remember, you need to fall in order to soar.

Love,
Coach Kara