JOURNAL CLUB
Professional athletes spend hours reviewing game film to analyze their habits, refine their techniques, and enhance their performance in both practice and competition.
Players can analyze what went right or wrong by reflecting, taking notes on specific situations, assessing their positioning and spacing, and, most importantly, translating this data into written evidence. This process helps develop a clear plan of action for future games and challenges, ensuring continuous improvement and strategic adjustments.
Just like in professional sports, the same principles apply to life. Just as players review film, analyze mistakes, and seek ways to improve before the next practice, we can mirror this process in our own lives. Developing creative writing habits and journaling allows us to reflect, learn from experiences, and continuously grow, much like athletes refining their game.
No matter the challenge, emotion, confusion, or goal, take time to write about it. Exploring your thoughts on paper helps build self-awareness and resilience. Even when no major issue arises, reflecting on how we continue to succeed despite new challenges reinforces our ability to perform at a high level. The more we write, the more evidence we create for ourselves cultivating gratitude, boosting confidence, and strengthening self-belief.
WHY JOURNALING MATTERS…
The process of journaling has many benefits that across the board can add more value to our overall experiences and wellbeing. Having the ability to accomplish both short and long term goals. Identifying both positive and negative emotions one may be experiencing. Having the skillset to properly label those emotions and feelings so we may then have the opportunity to act accordingly towards our true intentions and desires.
As an NFL athlete, top executive, Parent, youth athlete, college athlete, all aspects of high achieving performers need to be able to process feelings and emotions in a healthy and productive way for optimal success. On the Field, in the office, in the class room, and in board meetings. Having this ability will put you in the diver seat with your own emotions as you then navigate towards your preferred destination. Furthermore, adopting the right mindset will always come down to a choice. Choosing the correct one will ultimately lead you towards a more positive outlook and position in your process. Often the process of externalizing our thoughts onto paper or a medium outside of our minds can give us clarity and direction towards what we truly are in search of.
If you’re searching for something, write about it. If you’re feeling something’s wrong, write about it. If your upset, not sure, happy, excited, angry, its ok. These are all valid emotions we all at times face during the process. The key is understanding these emotions, giving yourself the opportunity to feel…. As well as a chance to notice where exactly these feelings are coming from. The power of journaling gives us that freedom and opportunity. From Olympic athletes, collegiate and pro athletes, top performers in business, Parents and family members. Journaling puts you in control of your emotions. Words then leads to behaviors, which then become reality.
