Detaching From Outcomes

We all do it.  We all get overattached to the thing or things we want.  The mental script often goes something like this.  If I get this job,house, car, money, status, I will be happy and all will be well.  For athletes, the script attaches them to outcomes like a time, a score, a game winning basket a clutch field goal.  Living for outcomes though, is living backwards.  Living for outcomes is an attempt to force one's way into some desired result.  Living for outcomes just does not work.  Athletes who realize this do not get pulled emotionally and psychologically when the desired outcome seems to be slipping away or even when it seems within reach.  In each case the mind is working overtime to create the desired result, which disrupts optimal performance.  Optimal performance athletes have very, very quiet minds.  They are fully in the moment, fully in the game, fully engaged.  They are not living in the past (beating themselves up for a missed shot) or in the future (overthinking).  They are in that state referred to as mindfulness or flow.  It's that place where great performances happen, when the athlete is trusting muscle memory and the thousands of hours spent honing his or her skills.  Sounds like a simple concept, but it takes effort over time to build this core mental skill.