I've recently realized that my ancestors in Scotland seem to have stumbled upon a truth that survives to this day. Sometime around 1160 AD, in Balnagowan, Scotland, Clan Ross was first recognized by King Malcolm IV. And, around that same time, the clan motto was first recorded. The motto or pledge was, and is, Spem Successus Alit (Latin). The English translation is
Success Nourishes Hope. It made me smile to think that 800 years later I'm preaching exactly that, to athletes and others in the work that I do as a Sport Psychologist. The latest research from Simon Fraser University utilized MRI scans of Olympic athletes to test the science behind the notion that
Success Breeds Success. The athletes were shown video of past successful performances and unsuccessful performances, while an MRI captured their brain activity. Activations in the pre-motor cortex showed motor responses being heightened when viewing successes, and suppressed when viewing failures. Concurrently, re-experiencing winning produced higher testosterone levels and lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is known as the "Stress Hormone" as higher levels trigger the "Fight or Flight" response and can dramatically impair optimal cognitive and physiological performance.
For athletes and others interested in achieving and maintaining optimal performance states, we show them how to train their minds to expect success. And, success not only nourishes hope, it activates the pre-motor cortex which in turn increases testosterone, decreases cortisol and prepares the athlete to succeed... again, and again, and again.
