Getting back in the swimming pool tonight after a few months off, I played a mind game with myself in which I cataloged mind games I play with myself to get through endurance sports. (these are beyond counting pedal or arm strokes and footsteps – I mean the ones when you can’t settle into mindless repeating of a song lyric or unconsciously counting to 1000 then drinking some water).
Some of these work beyond athletic situations.
For example, the ‘how will i feel’ game goes ‘how will i feel about this in a week’? ‘how will i feel about this in a day’? ‘ how will i feel about this in an hour’, etc. It usually turns out that I won’t care about the pain/exertion for more than a few minutes after it’s over.
Sometimes the result can be surprising.
While playing one of these games (“talk yourself into something, then back out of it”) on a bike, I once realized I couldn’t talk myself out of quitting a job. In my opinion, the only emotional decision one makes during 6 hours on a bike involves food or drink. So on the next ride I played “plan something ridiculous” and planned my exit. A month later, I did. It was the right choice.