{"id":16040,"date":"2023-10-26T14:13:56","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T18:13:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/?p=16040"},"modified":"2025-06-17T06:32:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T10:32:14","slug":"how-to-reach-for-your-athletic-potential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-reach-for-your-athletic-potential\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Reach for Your Athletic Potential\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/athletic-potential.jpg\" alt=\"How to Reach for Your Athletic Potential\n\" class=\"wp-image-16047\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/athletic-potential.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/athletic-potential-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_You_on_A_Quest_to_be_Your_Best\"><\/span>Are You on A Quest to be Your Best?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Article Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0769bf;color:#0769bf\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0769bf;color:#0769bf\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-reach-for-your-athletic-potential\/#Are_You_on_A_Quest_to_be_Your_Best\" >Are You on A Quest to be Your Best?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-reach-for-your-athletic-potential\/#Elite_athletes_push_themselves_to_be_their_best_by\" >Elite athletes push themselves to be their best by:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-reach-for-your-athletic-potential\/#Despite_her_accolades_and_achievements_Wilson_continues_her_quest_to_reach_her_potential\" >Despite her accolades and achievements, Wilson continues her quest to reach her potential.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-reach-for-your-athletic-potential\/#Related_Sports_Psychology_Articles\" >Related Sports Psychology Articles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-reach-for-your-athletic-potential\/#The_Composed_Athlete\" >The Composed Athlete<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p> Every athlete <strong>WANTS<\/strong> to be the best athlete they can be, but not all athletes <strong>DO<\/strong> what is necessary to achieve their potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Intentions may set the tone for athletic improvement. However, athletic excellence requires intentional action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An athlete who responded to one of our surveys sent the following question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;My coach frequently tells me I have a lot of potential. What can I do to reach my potential?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, you are on the right path because you are seeking ways to <strong>improve<\/strong>. Many athletes get stuck at a performance level because their wishes outweigh their actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These athletes attend practice instead of practicing with intention. They may have a vision of the athlete they want to be but do not set meaningful goals, have no action plan, nor do they search for ways to improve their game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Reaching your potential&#8221; can be restated as &#8220;reaching for your potential.&#8221; Reaching is an action; It&#8217;s striving to improve your game each day, whether that means extra practice, better nutrition, mental training, strength training, sustained focus in practice, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can work towards being the best athlete you can be by asking yourself one question each day: &#8220;What am I willing to do today to grow my game?&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Elite_athletes_push_themselves_to_be_their_best_by\"><\/span>Elite athletes push themselves to be their best by:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Setting clear, challenging goals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Developing an action plan with specific steps to follow to achieve their goals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Taking inventory of their skills and what mental and physical skills need improvement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Finding ways to consistently challenge themselves in practice.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mentally preparing before each training session and competition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seeking feedback from coaches, teammates, and mental game coaches to identify weaknesses and areas for improvement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Objectively evaluating performances and learning from mistakes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Competing in practice to normalize the feeling of competitive pressure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Staying committed and motivated throughout the season, even when progress is slow or setbacks occur.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pushing themselves out of their comfort zones.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Becoming the best athlete you can be is a process that requires dedication, discipline, and commitment to physical, mental, and technical self-improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Las Vegas Aces center A&#8217;ja Wilson has accomplished much throughout her basketball career, including winning two consecutive WNBA Championship titles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She earned the WNBA Finals MVP honors, receiving two regular season MVP awards, and being named Defensive Player of the Year twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Despite_her_accolades_and_achievements_Wilson_continues_her_quest_to_reach_her_potential\"><\/span>Despite her accolades and achievements, Wilson continues her quest to reach her potential.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WILSON<\/strong>: &#8220;<em>I just try my best to just to be a presence, to contest every shot&#8230; Everything I do, I&#8217;m going to try to be the greatest that I can be.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To <strong>BE<\/strong> your best, you must <strong>DO<\/strong> your best in your preparation, training, practices, and competitions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout your career, you will have many opportunities to grow your game. You need to commit to the quest!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Create a personal motto. Think of how you want to be remembered or what you want to accomplish as an athlete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Post your motto in visible places. Write your motto on your equipment to motivate you throughout training sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remind yourself of your motto before competitions, in warm-up, and during tough moments in competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be the best version of you instead of trying to be like someone else who you think is doing better than you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-979ef383-5bc7-43ee-b8f9-249663ca1a6c\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Sports_Psychology_Articles\"><\/span>Related Sports Psychology Articles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul id=\"block-05642731-8752-4dbf-9c18-5cc4d276e821\" class=\"wp-block-list has-normal-font-size\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/5-ways-to-maximize-your-athletic-potential\/\"><strong>5 Ways to Maximize Your Athletic Potential<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/mindset-and-how-to-reach-your-athletic-potential\/\"><strong>Mindset and How to Reach Your Athletic Potential<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/8-tips-to-unlock-potential-in-sports\/\"><strong>8 Tips to Unlock Potential in Sports<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\" id=\"block-5726d13f-f715-4ca4-8813-2f8a9ebd8bc3\">*Subscribe to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a> on Spotify<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\" id=\"block-281f5afb-980b-4c71-9aa0-11d606b5f7c9\"><strong>Download a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/mental-toughness-report-athletes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free sports psychology report<\/a>&nbsp;to improve your mental game!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\" id=\"block-94138e75-d591-4645-bb1d-212cf57a8841\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sport-psychology-training-athletes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about our one-on-one mental game coaching.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Composed_Athlete\"><\/span>The Composed Athlete<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/composed-athlete-small.jpg\" alt=\"The Composed Athlete Workbook &amp; Audio\" class=\"wp-image-19327\" style=\"width:174px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Composed Athlete\u201d is presented on<strong> 80-minute Audio Programs<\/strong> with a <strong>70-page step-by-step workbook<\/strong> that guides you through the program each day. It\u2019s a complete system for conditioning your mind to have <strong>maximum composure in competitio<\/strong>n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c<strong>The Composed Athlete<\/strong>\u201d was developed for <strong>any level coach, parent, or junior to professional athlete<\/strong> who wants to improve performance and gain a competitive edge. It does not matter if you are a fledgling junior athlete; or a seasoned professional, plagued with distractions; or you just wanting to learn how to improve your composure\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-8fee86ee\">\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-df6f9eb5 gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/the-composed-athlete-cd-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GET DETAILS<\/a>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-9e238db0 gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.peaksports.com\/collections\/the-confident-athlete-series-digital-download\/products\/the-composed-athlete-digital\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BUY NOW<\/a>\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are You on A Quest to be Your Best? Every athlete WANTS to be the best athlete they can be, but not all athletes DO what is necessary to achieve their potential. Intentions may set the tone for athletic improvement. However, athletic excellence requires intentional action. An athlete who responded to one of our surveys sent the following &#8230; <a title=\"How to Reach for Your Athletic Potential\u00a0\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-reach-for-your-athletic-potential\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How to Reach for Your Athletic Potential\u00a0\">Sport Psychology Article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16048,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[142],"tags":[318,247],"class_list":["post-16040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports-psychology-tips","tag-confidence-in-sports","tag-mental-toughness-in-sports"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.6.1 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You can work towards being the best athlete you can be by asking 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