Saturday August 18, 2012

Mind over matter

If you believe you are a winner, you can win.

Those were some of the fighting words drummed into our Malaysian athletes at a 12-day motivation camp before they head to the Paralympics Games, which will take place from Aug 29 to Sept 9.

Reliance Standard Sdn Bhd main consultant Dr Izham Nayan gave motivational speeches to the athletes at the camp.

“At instances where athletes have almost equal strength and skills, it is the mental power that sets them apart.

“Mental gain is 60% to 70% while physical power accounts for only 30% in your success,” Dr Izham said.

He has been giving motivational talks to athletes for more than 10 years.

“It started out as a module for entrepreneurs but 10 years ago, when we tried the motivational module for weightlifting athletes, we found that it worked.

“It is important for the athletes to expel all emotional scars, anger and negative emotions so they can go to London with a free mind.

“Mental strength is also important when they face the cold weather there,” he said.

Aside from the pep talk, Dr Izham also provided advice and tips such as researching the competition venue beforehand.

He even used the match between Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan as an example about the importance of mental strength.

“We must be committed and do whatever it takes (to achieve our goals).

“Olympians are very focused in their goals,” he said.

He added that the training is not just at the court, field or competition ground; the real training happens during one’s life.

“You create your own destiny.

“The reason why people do not get what they want is because they do not know what they want,” he said.

According to Dr Izham, instead of taking charge of their lives, a loser chooses to play the role of a victim.

“Do not blame other factors such as the stadium or audience.

“Don’t whine ‘coach, I could have done it if not for the weather, I could have done it if I was not late...’

“It is now time to take back your power and acknowledge the fact that you create every moment of your life,” he said.

He ended his motivation session by telling the athletes to envision their parents, with tears streaming down their cheeks, welcoming them home after their stint at the Olympics.

“We not only make a promise to ourselves but to our parents as well.

“Now is the chance for us to prove that we are champions: ‘I believe that I can succeed’,” he said.

The athletes will have a final motivation session on Aug 21 before they leave for the games.

“Even though we may only celebrate Hari Raya for a short while, it will be an actual Hari Raya when we win the Olympics.

“See you at the top,” he concluded.