Fear of losing

Most athletes fear losing above all else.
I can relate. At one point in my athletic career, I was so phobic about losing that my friends gave me a custom-made t-shirt as a gag.
It said, "Sometimes you just have to lose." I laughed and wore it around for a while.
But I only got the joke years later. That's when I realized my fear of losing was so extreme it was hurting me.
To get over your fear of losing, you need to learn how to handle loss in life. When Comedian Alan Alda was little, his dog died. He was distraught.
His Dad, trying to shield Alda from the loss, had the dog stuffed. Now Alda was doubly traumatized.
His dog was gone and his Dad didn't know how to comfort him. That's when Alda learned how to deal with bad change.
...by accepting loss.
He writes: "You can't hang onto something longer than its time. Never Have Your Dog Stuffed is really advice to myself, a reminder to myself not to avoid change or uncertainty, but to go with it, to surf into change."
How about you? Is there a loss in your past you can't seem to get over? If so, you need to realize that loss is part of life.
You need to grieve every loss and move on. This is the reason so many athletes get too nervous and choke.
The loss you fear has already happened to you. And you think it will be same this time.
My friend, I can assure you this is not the case. You are different now.
You are wiser and stronger. Now don't misunderstand me.
I'm not saying losing is your goal or you should like it. That's ridiculous.
Every athlete and coach hates to lose.
I'm saying that losing happens. And there is no loss you can't handle - as long as you're prepared to accept yourself.
If you know me, you know I'm big on self-acceptance. In fact it's my top value in life.
Teach yourself how to accept yourself, warts and all. If you haven't learned this lesson yet, now is the time.