Pressure is a Privilege

by Stella Whalen

Pressure is either the force that drives an athlete or cripples them in fear. It doesn't matter if the pressure comes from your coaches, your parents, your team, the crowd or yourself - if not controlled, it will instill in you a performance anxiety that consumes the mind. Performance anxiety is more severe for some athletes than others, but all have experienced uncontrollable nerves before the whistle blows or the gun goes off. 

Instead of looking at pressure as a shadow looming over your head waiting for you to fall short, see it as a privilege.

Graphic displaying a girl's journey out of the storm and into
Jesus's arms. 

Pressure is the honor of people expecting you to succeed. If you were not capable of performing well, there would be no pressure on you to do so. With the presence of pressure comes the confidence and motivation to accomplish what people believe you can. 

When it feels like the pressure is too heavy and clouds my mind, I remember this Bible verse that says, "Focus on me, not the storm." There is peace in those six words that remind Christian athletes where our focus should be. 

We can't run from pressure nor should we, but in the midst of it we have the chance to keep our eyes on Jesus. In showing where our focus lies, we are able to prove that through faith we can handle the pressure that is placed on our shoulders.

Works Cited:

Very Well Mind: How to Handle Sports Performance Anxiety as an Athlete 

Bible Gateway: Matthew 14:22-23

Photo Credit: Stella Whalen