NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE- CROSS COUNTRY SKI RACER

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Have You Ever Had a Dream?

Gaahhh, this is what goal setting is all about. Getting it out! Sometimes it's the toughest part of a sport to communicate with the people around you. It's not a matter of whether the listener actually cares what they are or not, or if they are achievable... it's the fact that you want them enough and believe in them enough as the person who is labeled to achieve them, to share them with someone.



I've been asked this question flat out more times this year than I can remember in a short period of time. "So, Erin, What are your goals for this year?"  It's usually in friendly conversation by family members, coaches from around the province, people in the sport from all different angles and each time, in my head I'm a little stunned. To everyone else outside of your head it's a very normal question. Ask an athlete and they clam up like the end of the world could be induced by answering it. It can be a weird attitude (and don't pretend you're not territorial about it in some way), that you don't wish were actually the case in feeling. That onus that there is no turning back once you spit, stutter or state it out is the part where most people trip up. Everyone will almost always answer, and I always do because I've learned its an integral part of the process, but I still catch myself thinking, should I tell them all of it? I keep it short and sweet. The statement piece of the goal is all they really need to hear at the moment. WHY is a whole other story. And that's a whole other question. It's really the most important part. So thank you to each person who has asked me, I think you should know how much you're helping me.

As one moves up the categories there are natural goals that come along. You are a Junior so that means your goal should be to make World Juniors. Well guess what, it most definitely was my goal but would I have really been ready to go there and compete? Probably not. And that's okay that I didn't know that until after. That's just my personal path but at the end of the day there has to be substance behind your goals. I'm not telling you NOT to dream. Dream big and dream frequently, but know why and where the goal is coming from. It will turn out to be much more powerful. Those scary goals can be the hardest ones to set, and those are the ones that when they come up, I pay the most attention to. Why is this such a big monster to me? What am I afraid of? Time to find some answers!

So I encourage you to set all the goals you want. But in the end, learn how to talk about them. I promise the world won't end.

...YOU WILL FEEL LIKE THIS, FLAMES AND AALLLLLL

http://photobucket.com/images/superwoman+cartoon/

Later!
Erin.
.... .... .... .... NOW IS THE TIME TO BE FULL OF COURAGE