I saw a kid unlock peak performance – I’ll show you how he did it, so you can use this super power any time you want.
I was watching a young boys’ basketball game the other day. There was one kid who was obviously really good compared to the other boys. We’ll call the good kid E. He was doing really well, then mid-game, another kid accidentally elbowed E in the nose. E had to leave the court for a moment to compose himself and get a drink of water. I noticed E telling the coach that he was good and wanted to get right back into the game. The coach hesitated for a moment but then put E back in. Immediately when the game started back, E got the ball and scored 2 points. Then a few moments later, E got a steal. A few moments after that, E was breaking ankles and scoring more points. He was on a tear and nothing was going to stop him.
The only thing I could think of was that the hit to E’s face triggered a part of him that normally isn’t available to him. This reminded me of Kobe in the Lakers Vs. Heat 2004 game where Dwyane Wade broke Kobe’s nose but that only unleased the animal inside Kobe and he used that as fuel for great performance in the next few games after that.
This motivation, drive, and focus that E tapped into was something I’ve seen before. He was more driven, more focused, and was about 25 to 50% better of an athlete. I’ve seen this in arguments where a laid-back person is put into mental overdrive and almost appears to have tapped into a few IQ points and is suddenly able to think and articulate arguments very clearly.
I’ve also seen this in the professional setting where someone experiences a setback on a project from an outside source and they are suddenly taken into overdrive.
This phenomenon isn’t new in sports psychology but it still remains somewhat of a mystery as to what triggers this state. There are also a few terms to describe this phenomenon. I want to get into what these states are and how you can trigger your own.
Identifying The Psychology
First, let’s identify what is actually taking place here. There are a few psychological concepts and terms in sports psychology that can help explain what went on in the case of the basketball player E.
The Flow State: This concept, also known as being “in the zone,” refers to a mental state where a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment. After the incident, E might have entered a flow state, characterized by heightened focus and performance.
Adrenaline Rush: The physical and emotional stress from the incident (e.g., getting elbowed) could have triggered an adrenaline rush, enhancing E’s physical capabilities temporarily. This biological response increases heart rate, pumps more blood to muscles, and sharpens mental focus, which can improve athletic performance.
Increased Motivation and Determination: The incident could have increased E’s motivation and determination to prove himself, making him more focused and driven. This psychological boost can significantly enhance performance as the athlete becomes more resilient and persistent in achieving their goals.
Resilience: This term describes the ability to recover quickly from difficulties. E’s quick comeback and improved performance after getting hurt is a testament to his resilience. Resilient athletes often use setbacks as motivation to perform better.
Emotional Arousal: The incident likely heightened E’s emotional arousal, which, when optimally channeled, can enhance performance. According to the Yerkes-Dodson law, there is an optimal level of arousal for peak performance; too little can make one lethargic, and too much can lead to anxiety, but the right amount can fuel focus and energy.
The Combination Of Effects
In the case of E, from what I’ve observed and know about him, I believe it’s a combination of several factors. I think he experienced an adrenaline rush that fueled emotional arousal, leading him into a flow state. This flow state, combined with E’s motivation and determination, resulted in a 25 to 50% performance improvement.
Triggering Emotions Within
I believe one of the most significant triggers is the emotional state. This is the underlying driver in most people being able to tap into their flow state or increase their motivation and determination. There are many strategies to enhance one’s optimal emotional arousal. One strategy that I find useful, as do many athletes, is listening to music. There are a few other techniques that have been found to help people heighten their emotional arousal.
- Pre-Competition Routines and Rituals: Many athletes use specific routines or rituals before competition to prepare mentally and emotionally. These can include listening to music, visualization techniques, or specific physical warm-ups. These routines can help induce a state of readiness and optimal arousal level.
- Motivational Speeches and Statements: Coaches and sports psychologists may use motivational speeches or targeted statements similar to the ones you mentioned (“Are you good enough? Are you going to let them win?”) to challenge athletes and trigger a competitive drive. The effectiveness of this approach can depend on the athlete’s personality; some may find it motivating, while others may find it increases anxiety.
- Goal Setting: Setting specific, challenging, and achievable goals for performance can help increase an athlete’s motivation and emotional arousal. Goals focus the athlete’s attention and effort, providing clear objectives to strive for.
- Visualization and Mental Rehearsal: Athletes are often taught to visualize successful performance outcomes or to mentally rehearse their competition strategies. This can increase confidence and emotional readiness, leading to optimal arousal levels.
Time To Implement It
Now you know what type of stimulus the person needs to enter the emotional arousal stage, it’s advisable to document your findings and create a customized plan for that individual. These tailored plans can then be implemented immediately when you want to trigger emotional arousal and go into peak performance mode before a competition or presentation.
High-performing individuals employ various techniques to trigger arousal and flow states. The key is to discover what works for you and to find methods to implement it, enabling you to enter these states at will without needing extreme stimuli.
My next post in personal development will continue from this post to talk about how you can use different over the counter products to stimulate yourself into more easily entering these arousal states. It’s amazingly easy with a few of the techniques I’ll show in that post.
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Thanks for reading.
