Читать книгу Sports Psychology For Dummies - Leif H. Smith - Страница 88

Your motivation will naturally ebb and flow over time, but if you notice that your motivation is dropping because of a lack of interest or because you’re developing different priorities, pay attention.

If you’re losing interest in your sport or you’ve developed an interest in another sport or another non-sport activity, keep in mind that this happens to athletes all the time. Just make sure that that your lack of interest or shift in interest is the true reason for your decline in motivation, and that some other issue — such as a lack of confidence, a conflict with a coach, or some other outside factor — isn’t to blame. If you do have a lack of interest, talk to your parents, coaches, or other people you trust about what you’re thinking and going through. This way, you’ll be able to sort out your thinking more clearly and make a more informed decision.

For many athletes, admitting to a drop in interest in their sport or simply a greater interest in something else is extremely difficult. Especially if you’ve played your sport for a long time, much of your identity is tied to yourself as an athlete.

Admitting to your parents and coaches that you don’t want to play your sport can be painful. You may find it helpful to talk with a sports psychologist — alone and/or with your parents. A sports psychologist can explain to your parents that goals change — and for good reasons. They can tell your parents that they can expect discipline, hard work, integrity, and commitment from you, but that expecting you to want to continue playing a sport you don’t enjoy is unfair. Having the support of a good sports psychologist can help you make this transition more smoothly.