| When I was preparing for my first world championship back in 2006, I used to think that the battle was against my team mates for a spot in the top 16 and focused majority of my time on that. As the rookie on the team at the time, I knew I just had to be that little bit better than the other skaters to secure my spot for World Championships. Looking back, I wish I had of understood the internal game better – the game in my head. Achieving your dreams (for me getting a spot in the top 16) is an internal game, it is all about the inches that you are making personally each day and what you are doing to overcome the voices in your head telling you that you cannot do it! Everyday, I could hear a series of conflicting messages in my head between the right way to train and the easy way. I knew the easy way wasn’t going to get me the results I wanted so I needed to tell myself each day that the right way (the harder way) was going to be worth it in the end. In life, each day is a series of conflicts between the right way and the easy way. When you are headed up stream for greater things and when you turn your back on what is comfortable, safe or what some would call common sense, it only gets tougher. You have to be clear on your outcome. Because that voice in your head will always be there challenging you, making you doubt yourself and telling you that you cannot do it! Every day now, I aim to make my game an internal one. The game is against myself. What I achieved yesterday and what I can achieve today. There is always another level to go to, you just have to be willing to dig deep, ignite that internal flame inside and beat that voice in your head making excuses for why you cannot do it. If you know what you want but need a little extra motivation to get there, check out this awesome video by Nike. Remember, the game is an internal one. It is against yourself – NOBODY ELSE. All the best! Aleisha |
