performance

Next, dedication can be compared with ‘endurance’. Dedication facilitates our resilience to meet challenges and our stamina to maintain momentum. Our level of dedication often determines to what extent we are willing to accept the ‘whole package’ and to cope with the unexpected. It is the willingness to do the work.

Finally, the factor which drives us to inexplicable heights, which mobilizes and energizes us to seek, find and realize our goals is passion. Our level of dedication will be determined by the extent of our passion for a particular purpose.

Purpose, dedication and passion are interrelated and dependent upon one another. They form the basis for development in any area of our lives. Fulfillment resulting from the interaction of this triad is how we measure, confirm and improve performance. Fulfillment reinforces progress.

In practice every performer, at one time or another may be faced with issues that involve confidence, anxiety, pressure, distraction, motivation, communication, dealing with disappointment as well as success, and so on. By acquiring insight into mental processes, and by developing mental skills, individuals learn to cope with factors that may otherwise interfere with performance.

A common misperception regarding performance psychology is that generally one needs to be plagued by a ‘problem’ prior to seeking assistance. The latter is a myth. When considering the numerous factors that involve dedication, discipline, and motivation when individuals want to excel, it is a matter of common sense that improvement includes all possible areas of development. The mind commands the body – not the other way around. Mental strategies compliment and facilitate physical effort and technical skill acquisition, and most importantly, remind individuals of the initial joy of performing.

Purpose, Dedication & Passion

Performance in sports, arts, academics, career, and life has three major aspects in common. First, each area requires a sense of purpose or a goal which keeps us on course and reminds us what it is we aim to move towards. Performance is guided by a vision, a dream. While change is inherent in any process, progress and improvement occur only when we actively remind ourselves of our goals, thus enabling us to constantly develop and improve our abilities.

Performance Psychology

Performance psychology examines factors that influence performance and attempts to develop ways in which individuals can enhance their performance most effectively. By facilitating an awareness of the link between thoughts, feelings, behavior and performance, performance enhancement can become a process in which the individual actively influences his or her own development and progress.