Sports Psychology with Jenny Smatt

MONITORING AND MAINTAINING YOUR ENERGY LEVELS

Obtaining the right energy balance in our bodies is a vital part of an athlete’s success equation. This can include the types and amounts of food we eat, the timing of consumptioni.e. before and after practice, as well as aligning it with our training schedules. We may need more or less protein, fat or water. The digestive process converts the food we consume into glucose which is the energy source enabling our bodies to function and perform. This is the most common language we use to discuss “energy”, but let’s consider another.

Humans are energetic beings comprised of cell tissue that forms a mass of energy. Inside these cells are atoms, neutrons, protons and electrons which are all energetically based. Quantum physics shows us how important energy is and this understanding can enable us to develop strategies to enhance both our quality of life and our performance as athletes. When we consider that the human body is comprised of five to 10 trillion cells, imagine the possibilities that exist for us in better understanding our body’s performance!

HOW DOES THIS ALL WORK?

As humans, we respond to stimulus and that stimulus triggers various reactions in our bodies. Our “experiences” can be received through our five senses: sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste. Through these experiences, our minds and our bodies send signals through our bodies through an amazing and complex system of neurons, electrons and electromagnetic energy field. So, you may ask the question - why is this important? Here’s why.

Much like how what we choose to eat affects our energy levels and how we perform, what we fuel our mind with and the experiences we choose to have, also affect our energy levels or otherwise, how we “feel”. Our thoughts, ideas and beliefs and attitudes are comprised of energy that fuel our neurotransmitters and neural network which in turn, triggers various reactions in our bodies. To illustrate this, let’s compare a positive thought with a negative thought. When we think about someone we love, we feel “happy”. This causes the release of dopamine and serotonin in our bodies which makes use “feel” good and our minds literally open and function more effectively. Negative, fear-based thoughts cause our brains to constrict and triggers a chemical release that slows our systems down in every aspect. Even though this is a protective mechanism for our human bodies, it does not allow us to function efficiently or effectively and is a much less enjoyable state for us to be in.

To take this thought process one step further, we also know that energetically, when we are in a more positive or productive space, our energy fields are physically vibrating differently than when we are in a negative space or in flight. Sometimes we make comments that someone is so peaceful or “zen” or alternatively, someone is frenzied or “strung out”. So, if we know that what we think about and the level of energy we fuel our minds with ultimately createsthe quality of our experience, we can develop control of two things i) what we do, think, and feel and ii) how we interact with others.

In subsequent articles we will discuss each of these in greater depth, however, here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Track how you “feel” daily on a scale of 1 – 10. If you wish, capture how you feel both mentally and physically.

2. Notice your energy levels when you are happy. What did you do that made you happy? Who was around you or contributed to this happiness? What tapes, scripts and thoughts were in your mind?

3. Notice when you have negative thoughts.

How does that impact how you feel and your performance in practice? Imagine those thoughts being “pushed” out of your mind and replace them with a happy thought. Does your energy change?