Looking around at people in society – and in the sporting community in particular – it’s easy to find examples of unbalanced individuals who lead one-dimensional lives. They may have achieved ‘success’ in their work, or career, or sport; they may be very wealthy – yet they don’t seem to be particularly happy.
One of the major philosophies underpinning the entire Sportsmind approach, is that success is all about treating an athlete holistically. Learning to train the mind and emotions as well as training our body. This means that we want to recognise that we have emotions and feelings; that friendship and love and belonging are just as important to being a success, as are well toned muscles, gold medals and financial gain.
One way to understand this important principle of setting balanced goals is to consider a wheel with five spokes. Each of these spokes represents an area of your life.
Spoke 1 is for your personal health and fitness – without this you can’t do anything else. Spoke 2 is for your relationships and family life – without which life pretty much loses its meaning. Spoke 3 is for career and sporting goals and other interests – because humans want to have a sense of purpose in life. Spoke 4 is for financial wealth and possessions – because life is a ‘pay as you go’ process, not a free ride. Spoke 5 is for personal development and contribution – because we all leave a legacy of some kind, be it a help or a hindrance.
So as you review your goals for the year, perhaps you might answer the follwing questions: “What kind of relationships would I like to have with my coach, and team mates?” “What do I want to learn this year?” “How do I want my family to be?” “What would I like to contribute to the wider community this year?”
About Jeffrey Hodges B.Sc.(AES) M.Sc.(Hons)
Jeffrey Hodges is a performance consultant to elite athletes, sporting teams and corporate clients. He is the author of the widely acclaimed “Sportsmind – An Athlete’s Guide to Superperformance Through Mental & Emotional Training” and “Champion Thoughts, Champion Feelings”; creator of the Sportsmind performance enhancement workshops and audio tapes; and Director of the Sportsmind Institute for Human Performance Research.
He is a NLP Master Practitioner and Associate Trainer, and his Sportsmind programs have been endorsed by the NSW Dept Sport & Recreation, and recommended by top sportsclubs and successful athletes. Jeffrey has competed in many sports, notably Volleyball, Squash, Soccer and Golf, and currently trains in Aikido, holding a black belt.
Some of his clients to date include :
Australian Rugby Union
St. Joseph’s College
Woodlands Golf Club
Financial Institutions Remuneration Group (FIRG)
Societe Generale
Qld. Swimming
Network for Fitness Professionals
North Sydney and Penrith Rugby League Clubs
Qld. Athletics Assn
NSW Netball Assn
Northern Inland Academy of Sport
Victorian Soaring Assn
Orange Agricultural College Equestrian School
Qld and NSW Departments of Sport and Recreation
Qld Academy of Sport
and the RAAF.
For more information, contact :
SPORTSMIND , 77 FLAXTON MILL ROAD
FLAXTON Qld. Australia. 4560.
PHONE 61 7 5445 7994
email : jh@sportsmind.com.au
website : www.sportsmind.com.au
