Thirty three year old Nik Wallenda had a dream: To walk across Niagara Falls, from the USA to Canada, at night on a wire. Sounds more like a nightmare or an insane moment to most, but for Wallenda, it was a desire that left him restlessly desperate to complete. As the grandson of Karl Wallenda and famed member of the Flying Wallenda’s, Nik had a unquenchable desire to complete what his grandfather never could after losing his life at 73 years old during a failed attempt during a walk on a wire between two buildings in Puerto Rico in 1978.
Aside from completing an amazing feat, the Wallenda family is well known for their prowess on the wire. A future event to cross a section of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, three times the length of walk across the falls, has already been planned. However, what sounds like a day at the office, is hardly something normally accomplished by more than a handful of people on any level.
So what exactly is it that separates the Wallenda’s from the Smith-like people, enabling them to do what seems next to impossible? What does it take to perform such daring feats and how does someone become a “Great Wallenda” kinda guy? Are you genetically predisposed, influenced at a young age or is it something that requires a mental capacity unknown to most human beings?
According to sports psychologists, mental toughness training is a key factor top performing athletes must possess. Carissa Rodriguez of Vanderbilt University’s Health Psychology Department describes the body mind connection as an essential component necessary to achieve overall performance.
“By learning to train the mind to work along with the body and spirit, one will increase real performance by decreasing anxiety.”
Cognitive, behavioral training coordinates the body to work with the mind while disciplining and balancing both to overcome the rise of stress hormones experienced during highly stressful situations. If the mind fails to work with the body, then no matter how smart, strong or athletically talented you may be you will likely fail, both mentally and physically. Our mind constantly sends or replays a message that is sent to our body, ordering its response.
For example, if we’ve “failed” at something we’re trying now to overcome, we have to train our mind to discipline our body to work cohesively in order to hurdle past our history. If our mind continuously replays the message of our failure or defeat, then the repeat button will likely win over the fast forward action we’re attempting to send. The ability with which we are able to perform, overcome and achieve success at any level is highly related to our ability to coordinate both our mind and body to work together.
Imagery, concentration and self belief are equal partners in obtaining peak performance. Although you can’t just “believe in yourself” without paying the price of what comes with it (years of developing your talent, athletic prowess and superior ability) belief in yourself is a vital lifeline to accomplishing anything beyond your last feat or your next life challenge.
What separates the winners from the losers is usually one thing: The ability to overcome the obstacle set before them and the discipline to hurdle forward with strength beyond their natural abilities.
Quick Tips for Wellness: Training the body to work with the mind and spirit produces the strength to overcome.
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Resources: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-16/us-man-first-to-walk-cable-stretched-across-niagara-falls/4074652; http://www.athleticinsight.com/Vol1Iss2/Cognitive_Behavioral_Anxiety.htm#Cognitive-Behavioral Treatments in Athletics
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