Episode Details
Back to Episodes#5 - Stoic Sports Psychology: How to Improve Your Mental Game Through the Dichotomy of Control
Description
In this episode we explore how Stoic principles like the dichotomy of control can improve mental toughness in sports performance.
We discuss one of our favorite quotes:
Take the case of one whose task it is to shoot a spear or arrow straight at some target. One’s ultimate aim is to do all in one’s power to shoot straight, and the same applies with our ultimate goal… To actually hit the target is, as we say, to be selected but not sought. (On Ends, III, 22)
We have a wide ranging discussion from how 10 time national championship winning coach John Wooden taught his players to tie their shoes, to Nick Saban's Stoic tendencies, how to "Win Ugly", to exploring the concept of the mundanity of excellence.
In honor of it being Wimbledon week we finish with a tennis Stoic reimagining of an unforgettable breakdown during a tennis match.
In this show we reference:
- Winning Ugly
- The Mundanity of Excellence
- Youzhny reacts badly to losing point - hits his raquet against his head