Does Your Lens Need Cleaning?
Finding the right focus for your performance
I started this week in a right grump.
Interrupted sleep, last-minute changes, disruption to routine… the usual culprits. I don’t have a face that hides my mood well, (I even have a nickname - FRon, as in frown) and unsurprisingly my training suffered, too. Negative moods are strongly linked to impaired performance, and that frustration can easily spiral. A missed session feeds the bad mood, the bad mood fuels more missed sessions, and so on.
Then, something small snapped me out of it.
Since moving to the Gold Coast, I’ve been meeting new people most days. A casual conversation with a passerby shifted my perspective. They pointed out how lucky I was to wake up to blue skies and sunshine every morning. (Readers in the UK - sorry, not sorry!). I was reminded that the way I choose to see my day makes all the difference.
It was just one comment. But it was enough to clean my mental lens - to remind me to zoom in and out until I found the right focus again.
We can underestimate this ability to change perspective, yet it happens all the time without us realising it. I believe it’s a skill we should consciously practice more.
And here’s where this ties into performance:
We often judge a race or event by the outcome - wins, PBs, rankings…the numbers. But performance is more than that. If we only measure ourselves in absolutes, we overlook the bigger picture.
The Challenge Is Always There
Every event, race, or test of endurance is a challenge - not just an event. The conditions shift, the competition changes, and the outcome is unknown. That’s the nature of performance. It’s easy to get caught up in measuring success by a PB or a podium finish, but the truth is, success isn’t always so black and white. There are many ways to measure progress, and many ways to define a performance worth being proud of.
We would do well to zoom out here and remember: every time we engage in activity we are choosing to challenge ourselves.
The Context Changes
No two performances are identical. The weather, the course, your body, your mood - each day presents a different set of variables. Some days, everything clicks: the conditions are perfect, your legs feel light, and confidence carries you forward. Other days, nothing feels quite right - unexpected fatigue, a headwind that won’t let up, or a creeping sense of doubt. You can’t predict everything, but you can prepare to adapt.
Because in the end, the challenge is to meet reality as it is, rather than wish for an easier version of it. That’s where your lens comes in - zooming in when needed, zooming out when necessary, and aligning yourself with the reality in front of you.
The Opponent Changes
Sometimes, your toughest competitor is across the line from you. Other times, they’re more subtle: self-doubt, discomfort, or the voice in your head questioning whether you belong here. The challenge might be physical, mental, or both. Regardless, the opponent always shifts, and so must your response. Giving dedicated time to the factors you are up against means your focus is where it matters on each different day.
But You Stay the Same
It sounds obvious, but you are the one constant through all of your performances. The tools you have - your preparation, mindset, and ability to respond - don’t disappear just because the challenge looks different. Your strengths are still there, and so is your ability to choose how you show up. Being able to look at yourself through different lenses creates a protection and safety from those things that sneak up and put us back in that bad mood.
That’s why, when I’m coaching someone towards a performance, I always ask them to consider the COMS mental skills framework, as it can be a powerful tool:
Context – What are the circumstances I am performing in today? What’s within my control?
Opponent – Who or what am I up against? How will I approach this challenge?
Me – What do I bring to the table? What strengths do I already have?
Strapline – A simple phrase to anchor my focus and keep me in the right mindset.
By using this framework, you can shift your perspective at any moment. You become adaptable. You focus with greater clarity. You prove to yourself you have what it takes.
Sometimes, all it takes is a little clean of your lens to remind yourself of that.
Ron
Call for Comments
Based on this newsletter, here are a couple questions to think about:
What’s your ‘lens-cleaning’ strategy when things feel off? Do you have a phrase, habit, or mindset shift that helps you reset?
What is your go-to strapline to focus on on event day?
If you have been reading along consistently, thank you. In the meantime, if you’re keen for more performance insights from our previous editions - all here on Substack.
If you found this of value, then we value your support - Buy us a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/activeedge
Website, Videos and more: https://linktr.ee/theactiveedge
Thanks for the informative musings. I've been following via the newsletter for a while, but just moved over to Substack. I'm a fellow yellowbelly in Queensland.