What’s Important Now?
Use W.I.N. to Stay Present
In sport psychology, we emphasize the importance of being present by using the phrase “Be Where Your Feet Are.” This concept applies to both life and sport performance, as it’s all about resetting your focus on the present moment. For example, a golfer needs to reset their focus approximately seventy-two times during a competition to consistently hit the ball straight. Similarly, a football player must refocus themself about seventy-five times during a game.
Peyton Manning once said, “In every football game, there are four or five plays that determine the outcome.” What if you miss those plays because you are unfocused and in your own head? What if you don’t miss those plays because you have mastered the art of focusing yourself? Since you don’t know which plays will be the deciding factor, you have to stay dialed in on the present moment to perform at your best. This is true, not only for sports, but for life. Even Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) points to presence in one’s life as one of the largest factors of our own happiness.
One helpful tool to stay in the moment is the acronym W.I.N., which stands for “What’s Important Now?” By consistently asking yourself this question, you can reset your focus, regardless of whether something good or bad has happened. The answer to “What’s Important Now?” brings you back to the present moment and guides you toward positive actions that will benefit your current situation.
As performance coaches, we often talk about W.I.N. to help athletes get back to the present moment as soon as possible. The more we can avoid time-traveling into the future or the past, the better we’ll perform. Some athletes I’ve worked with have even written “W.I.N.” on their gloves, shoes, or chin straps to remind themselves of the importance of focusing on the present moment.
When adversity comes your way — and it will — it can be easy to fall into the trap of comparison. But, by standing tall and asking yourself “What’s Important Now?”, you’ll be more equipped to maintain a positive mindset and keep your head in the game. When you make a mistake, in your life, in the game, or otherwise, don’t dwell on that mistake. Accept that it happened and remember W.I.N. so you can focus on the next best action.
