Many characteristics that make a great athlete–drive, perseverance, perfectionism, tenacity–can also drive a person toward overtraining, burnout, a sport-centric sense of self, and other mental health struggles. I think that it’s a common misconception that the athletes at the top of their game are overwhelmingly happy. In contrast, many athletes, even when everything is going right, struggle with performance anxiety, self-worth outside of accolades, and a feeling of emptiness outside of athletics. When athletes put everything they have into their performance, it can put too much emphasis on the importance of sport, and not enough on the importance of overall happiness, health, and well-being.
This isn’t to say that there aren’t happy elite athletes out there; I fully believe that it’s possible to find a balance between relentlessly chasing goals and prioritizing mental health. However, this is incredibly hard to achieve, and often require the help of a trained professional, such as a sport psychologist or therapist. Often, the focus in training is purely on the physical side of the sport, and the mental and emotional components are left to the wayside. This is lost potential, because once physical, mental, and emotional wellness are all optimized, that is when the athlete is truly able to thrive.
Recently, I’ve been feeling imbalanced in my life. Stress around running, my goals, and the pressure I put on myself to constantly be moving forward has made it difficult to enjoy my life. I love running, but when it is also my career and source of income, the relationship can get complicated. Watch this video to hear more about what I’m going through and how I’m coping.
