As archers, we all know that archery is all about balance. The effort we put into our training and competitions has to be just right; too little and we fall short. Too much, and things fall apart. The balance is critical; this also applies to mindset. A lot of individuals often try too hard, putting too much mental effort into their shot. When this happens, the critical balance is disrupted, and the arrow doesn’t go where we want it to. The additional effect pulls us out of the shot/moment, and focus is lost.
How do we maintain this balance? How do we just give it just enough? This is all about self mastery. What I mean by this is getting to know yourself. Begin to drop the story’s that your parents and life experience has given you. For instance, many of us believe “you have to work hard to get what you want.” This type of story/belief system can get in your way. Even though this concept can get you good results, it can work against you, in a sport like archery where too much is just as damaging as too little.
The first step in keeping mental and emotional balance is to give up the critical mind, stopping the self-judgement and cutting yourself a break. You also must develop an understanding that this doesn’t happen overnight; this process takes time. Through the process of shooting your bow, you are getting to know yourself. It’s not all about shooting thousands of arrows and developing muscle memory. That will only get you so far. It’s about the relationship you are forming between all of the parts: the bow, the arrow, the moment of execution, and you.This is the mental game and for most of us it holds the biggest challenges. It’s not just about shooting an arrow; it’s about you shooting the arrow. You're the archer; you're the reason this is happening. This is why you can’t overlook yourself and the time it takes to develop this self-awareness.. You are an Important part of the equation. Some would argue that you’re the most important part.
Once you start to form a deeper relationship with the shot, you need to begin to identify the behaviors that don’t work. This type of behavior may be a hesitation at full draw or a surge of anxiety when you get on target. Sometimes it’s a conditional response to a certain scenario such as shooting bad on the first several targets or ends to the point where winning is out of the question and then everything gets better and you find your flow . These types of obstacles are sometimes hard to fix if you’re trying to work on them alone. This Is why certain types of hypnosis can be very beneficial. With hypnosis, you can easily find these hidden stories or behaviors that stand in your way. Once freed from these mental obstacles, you find the mental freedom and clarity to tap your hidden potential.
So give yourself a break, stop being so critical of yourself, don't be so focused on the outcome. Some of us use this as motivation, that “I must win” energy, but you don’t need to. To mentally focus on that is exhausting. You don’t go to a competition to lose. Winning is implied. Save your energy and focus for making strong shots.
If you are interested in learning more about how to give up trying too hard and make your archery easier and more enjoyable, reach out today.