How Mindfulness, Patience, and Resilience Can Transform Athletes’ Lives Beyond Quick Wins
In today’s fast-paced world, the desire for instant results has become deeply ingrained in our culture, even in the sports world. Social media platforms give us instant rewards through likes and comments, releasing dopamine in our brains that makes us crave more. This constant feedback loop can become addictive, leaving us hooked on quick wins.
This is what I’ll talk about in this blog post, from my own coaching experience.
Accepting The Loop
It's important to talk about how much today's instant gratification impacts our lives and shapes our character. With how easy it is to get what we want these days, chasing instant pleasure unconsciously can make us less focused, less empathetic, and even lead to shallow connections with others.
As a coach, I’ve seen how this creates unrealistic expectations with some teams, which can bring disappointment when things don’t go as ‘expected.’
A Story From My Personal Experience
A few years ago, I worked with a team that wanted things fast. I could see it in their approach to training, how they took feedback, and their reactions at competitions. It was the most challenging group I’ve ever coached. I did my best to make them aware of this mindset. We set short-term goals, talked about frustrations, and had open conversations about resilience, living in the moment, and avoiding comparison. But the same issue kept coming up—they wanted to feel good immediately.
I even remember talking by the pool one day with several team members who shared how often they experienced feelings of discouragement. There was an impactful silence in our circle when I asked them if they think they’re more present in the life they had on their phones versus the one they were living.
Breaking The Loop
I will never forget this moment. How most of them agreed that they had everything at the speed of their fingers- that they get instant gratification every single day.
Since then, I have tried to keep reminding myself that we, coaches/educators, have to keep up with the newer generations. Their mental struggles are different than ours. And if we don’t try to relate to them, we can never really get to them.
I printed out this photo in my room at the time to keep myself in check and remind them of it when they needed it. And I continue to commit to reminding my athletes that with continuous effort, resilience, patience, and big sacrifices comes incredible achievements.
How can we work on this mindfully as coaches or athletes?
Here are some of the things I’ve learned over the years that can make a difference:
Practicing Mindfulness & Digital Detox
Practicing mindfulness helps us become more aware of our impulses and gain better self-control. Being present in the moment and consciously choosing how we use technology can help us make more intentional choices. Another easy thing we can do is go on a “dopamine detox” every once in a while by taking breaks from our phones- which helps reset the brain and keep us in the present.
Accepting The Hustle
As Michael Gervais said: “We only discover who we are through challenges. Stress pushes us to grow beyond our limits—physically, mentally, and emotionally.” We don’t really get to know who we are without real challenges. That helps us build the resilience we need to stand strong against difficult life circumstances.
Practicing Patience
Patience isn’t as natural of a trait as it once was; it must be taught and acquired. Building patience can come in many forms like setting goals, sticking to routines, and focusing on long-term growth instead of quick fixes.
Amor Fati - my favorite concept which I will talk about in depth another time. A Stoic idea that means embracing the struggles and challenges that life throws your way. In other words, love your journey, no matter how hard it gets.
The Effect of Instant Results on Health & Happiness
In sports- like in life- gaining quick wins can be exciting. But true achievement comes from being patient and sticking with it. Athletes who develop patience and resilience have better self-discipline, make more conscious decisions, and are more likely to experience long-term success. By resisting the temptation for quick wins and dedicating time and effort to training, skill development, and personal growth, athletes can achieve deeper satisfaction and a lasting sense of fulfillment in their careers.
It is our job as coaches to help our athletes with the resources they need to get closer to this kind of mindset that will impact their lives positively, forever.
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