Moodyness & Performance
It is funny how some talented athletes are moody to cover up having to perform.
Their moods are a way of being pissed off because their lives are not going the way they want them to because of the pressure to perform. So to get off the pressure they are moody and blame other people for not doing things that they think they should. So if they are angry and pissed they have an excuse for not calling up their talent to win.
Moodiness is one of the emotional states that create an off-ramp for success. It is a way of being so self-focused and disconnected from others and punish oneself for mistakes or perceived failures. The moody athlete is always at the hands of others and uses ones energy to get others to do what they think is best for others.
The choice to be moody disconnects people and causes confusion. People don’t know what the moodiness is about and thus take it on themselves and wonder what they have done. This is a clever way to avoid self- evaluation for both people (the moody and the one who blames themselves for the emotional state of the other.)
To deal with this, athletes must understand that all behaviour, no matter what it is, is an attempt to feel good. The moody athlete tries to feel good by choosing moodiness and this satisfies one or more of their basic needs, usually power. Moody athletes feel powerless and ineffective in some area of their life and therefore seek to get power by trying to control others with their mood.
Make the choice not to be affected by someone else’s mood. Tell them how their mood is affecting you. Love them and tell them they are ok and you understand. Call them up to perform, lead them to succeed. Be positive, clear and never buy into their mood – and you will never let yourself off the hook and use the moody athlete as an off-ramp.
Love
Coach Bri