Look at the Turd, Not the Bird: How Athletes Can Stay Composed When Overwhelmed

Look at the turd and not the bird.

Ever heard that one before? I bet not, but I also bet you won’t forget it!

This happened in one quick swoop. I was driving, listening to an audiobook on time, the present, and staying composed, when SPLAT, right on my windshield. Safe to say the bird felt good, but I wasn’t too happy.

But it did connect some dots for me.

Staring up at the sky, I was squinting, trying to spot the bird, the culprit, but I couldn’t see anything. The sun was blinding me.

Then I looked back at the mess on my windshield and immediately knew the next step: clean that $@#* off!

It reminded me of a hike I took last month. Staring at the mountain peak way off in the distance was overwhelming. But when I focused on my shoes, the rocks, and the trees right around me, I knew the next step and calmed down.

Staying Composed & Building Confidence When Overwhelmed

There’s nothing you can do about the bird that rained on your parade. All you can do is clean it off and keep driving toward your destination.

Move it and lose it in 3 steps.

1. Acknowledge it. Yes, it happened. Yes, there’s a lot going on. It’s overwhelming, but that’s not the real problem. The problem is when it takes over every action and step you take.
2. Rewind the overwhelm. Trace it back. Whether it’s a bird, a mountaintop, a big game, a new season, a starting spot, you name it. You’ve acknowledged it, now bring it back to where you are in this very moment.
3. Conquer the overwhelm. Clean the windshield. Take the very next step up the mountain. Run the next play and get it right once. Beat your opponent one time.

Whatever has you overwhelmed, you can’t let it swallow you whole. Take it one small piece at a time. Chip away at it, just like you would with anything else.

So no matter what the performance or big goal is, go into it with one singular action, goal, or move you know you can absolutely crush. Sweep it clean. Lock it in. Do it.

How clear is that?

What I love about this is the clarity it brings back. It’s hard to stop driving, even if a bird uses your car as a toilet. But if you follow these steps, the road back to focus is clear with just a quick spray.

For our athletes, it’s no different. Between plays, practices, lifts, the start of school, and rivalry smack talk, things can get overwhelming. But when you move it and lose it in three simple steps, you set yourself up for success, in the game and in life.

Gabe, TAH