007. Jason Day Owns His Back Pain
One of the most Dad-moves EVER happened this past weekend in the second round of the Masters. It also might be the reason why Jason Day made the cut (besides the fact that he’s the 12th best player on the tour right now…).
During Day’s warmup, he was coming off the putting green and bent down to kiss his daughter. On the way up, he threw out his back.
Now, I’m sure we both have had a sore back before. One that left us incapable of doing normal activities. And for most people, a thrown out back would put us in the couch.
But not Jason Day. This man went out and shot a 67 - a 5-under-par 67! That’s pretty amazing in my book. Last time I tried playing golf with a sore back, and one of the golfers I work with, Amanda Smith, can attest to this, I could barely get the ball off the ground. I’m not saying I’m a great golfer, but swinging a club with back pain is not fun.
Here’s what I think happened. Jason Day perfectly stressed his body out, allowing his mind to get into an automatic state of performance.
The Zone of Optimal Performance
In the psychology arena, there is a theory known as Individualize Zone of Optimal Functioning (see picture; Hanin, 2007, 2009). This theory basically says that every person reacts to stress differently.
Some people need a lot of stress to perform well, and some athletes, business people, or students, need minimal stress.
Stress can come in a lot of different forms:
A big presentation (like the Masters)
A huge test (like the Masters)
You have to walk 20 miles in four days (like at the Masters)
or you throw out your back
Amanda Smith told me one time, “You ever hear the quote: Never play golf against someone with a rock in their shoe?” The same thing goes here, Jason Day threw out his back and threw himself into his Zone of Optimal Functioning.
Where does your stress level need to be to perform at your best? Do you enjoy the pressure? Do you choke when the lights come on?
The 5 Day Mindfulness Mini Series below might help get your mind right for the next big performance you have. Maybe give it a go.
Regardless, Jason Day is an absolute stud for the performance he put on and it reminds me that I don’t need to feel good to perform well. Just like you don’t need to feel good to do your best when it means the most. Take action and your feelings will follow.
Through mindset and strategy APPLICATION, this mini series will not only help reduce stress, but you will sleep better, reduce anxiety, and increase focus. We’re all seeking fulfillment in life, and it starts with being just a little more mindful.
5 minutes a day for 5 days. 25 minutes that might just save your life.
Hanin, Yuri L. (1997). Emotions and athletic performance: Individual zones of optimal functioning model. European Yearbook of Sport Psychology, 1, 29-72.
Hanin, Y. L. (2000). Emotions in sport. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
