Stop Riding Your Brakes in Life

Psychological Barriers Inhibiting Our Performance

Today we’re going to be talking about the psychological barriers inhibiting our performance. I know that sounded like a mouthful. But ultimately, what if the only thing holding us back was what we were thinking about our capacity, as opposed to what we’ve been trained to do best? In this episode, we’re going to explore an idea that came to me recently while working out. And I knew right when it began to take shape and build upon itself that I had to share it with you guys. So before we launch off into this episode, I just want to ensure that your seats are in the upright position, your tray tables are secure, your carry-on bags are safely stowed in a seat before you, and your seatbelts are fastened. Not only that, but I also want you to be ready to rock with us on another episode of Halftime Talks. Let’s go.

Painting the Picture

To begin this episode, I want to paint a picture. Imagine yourself on an open road, a highway with nothing but majestic scenery ahead. You have the slow lane and the fast lane, and now you’re in the fast lane, starting to pick up some steam. Suddenly, you notice a luxury vehicle ahead of you, pumping its brakes every few seconds. You give it the benefit of the doubt, but it continues to happen. So, you veer into the slow lane and look ahead to see if they’re really encountering obstacles or if it’s just their bad habit of pumping the brake. You notice there’s nobody in front of them.

If you’ve driven significant miles on a highway, you’ve likely encountered this person. The reason I bring this up is that I suspect you, like me, have the tendency to drive with your foot over the brake. What kind of capacity can a car truly experience if it’s always in that hesitant mode? But before we dive deeper, let’s ask ourselves: what would make somebody drive with their foot over the brake?

The Foot Over the Brake

When your foot is over the brake, you’re not allowed to accelerate. You’re not allowed to bring the vehicle into its optimum state of performance because what’s going on in your mind is inhibiting it. There’s a disconnect between the training, the skills acquired, and the capacity to move effortlessly in our field of endeavor, all because of our own apprehension of what lies ahead.

What are you capable of doing if not for the plan B, the foot over the brake, the hesitation, the negative anticipation of impending circumstances? That’s often where we find ourselves. Now, I want to be clear: I’m not advocating recklessly using your vehicle or putting others at risk. What I am advocating is understanding the work that has been put into crafting the vehicle that is you. Respecting what has been learned, and all the engineers that have contributed to your story.

The Difference Between Fear and Threat

There is a difference between fear and threat. Fear is the reluctant anticipation of negative outcomes. A threat, on the other hand, has to be responded to in the moment. How many times have we found ourselves scared to pull the trigger or hesitant with our foot over the brake, anticipating that something may happen, so we must be prepared?

The engineers in the factory of you have carefully crafted an exquisite vehicle. They know what it knows, have learned what it learns, and have come to conclusions that only you can. Yet, there is a psychological part of you that inhibits the potential you’ve already reached.

Reaching Your Full Potential

If you were a racecar driver, could you expect any victory if you were always in the mode of braking? Could you reach your limits if you were always in a state of cognitive caution? Again, I’m not asking you to hammer on the gas and go full throttle, but to understand and distinguish between your psychological hangups and what’s actually presented to you on the open road.

If there’s nobody in front of you, it is time. You owe it to yourself and to the education that brought you here to let go on the road. To see what you’re capable of doing and build from there. Not in traffic, but in the open road of life, when you have the opportunity and you’re engaged in something you’re passionate about. Open up, take your foot off the brake, and put it on the accelerator. Show yourself that all the experience and conclusions you’ve come to have amounted to something.

It’s one thing to be an armchair quarterback, and it’s another to perform on the road without inhibition. Consider why your foot is over the brake. Many won’t acknowledge that it is, but we’re hesitant. We look for reasons not to engage, and excuses that inhibit our light. Our life becomes a series of “should have” possibilities, reflecting on missed opportunities.

Embrace Your Capabilities

You are prepared. You do know enough. There are values you can bring to your immediate circle and the global marketplace. Until you see that, you fail to recognize what the engineers have inculcated within you from the beginning. You fail to see what you’ve learned and been educated to understand.

You are a high-performance vehicle. Take your foot off the brake, engage the throttle, and show yourself what you’re capable of. Only then will you truly feel fulfilled in all that you’ve done. It’ll make the previous journey worthwhile and keep you alive in the future. Just some food for thought to consider.