My secret to staying focused under pressure | Russell Wilson

Summary

In this inspiring speech, Russell Wilson reflects on the emotional rollercoaster of his life, from being drafted by the Colorado Rockies to the devastating loss of his father. He discusses the pressures of high-stakes games, personal setbacks like divorce, and the importance of maintaining a neutral mindset. Wilson emphasizes the power of mental conditioning, sharing his journey with coach Trevor Moawad and how it's helped him navigate life's challenges. He also shares a poignant interaction with a young cancer patient, Milton Wright, highlighting the choice to remain positive and focused amidst adversity.

Takeaways

• 🏆 Russell Wilson experienced the high of being drafted by the Colorado Rockies and the low of losing his father, illustrating the extreme emotional range one can encounter.
• 🔁 Wilson emphasizes the importance of shifting to 'neutral' in challenging times, akin to shifting gears in a car, to prevent emotional crashes.
• 🤔 He questions the role of positivity, suggesting that while it's natural to be positive, it's not always effective, especially in the face of significant adversity.
• 🏈 Wilson discusses the pressure of high-stakes moments in football, such as the potential to win a game with a single play, and the public scrutiny that follows.
• 💪 He shares his personal journey of training his mindset with mental conditioning coach Trevor Moawad, highlighting the importance of mental training alongside physical training.
• 📝 Wilson encourages setting clear visions for one's life, using language and visualization to align with those aspirations.
• 👶 He reflects on the early influences of his father, who instilled a 'why not you?' attitude, which has been a driving force in his life.
• 🤝 Wilson shares a story of meeting Milton Wright, a young man battling cancer, and how he used his own experiences to inspire hope and resilience.
• 😔 He acknowledges the reality of life's challenges, including personal struggles with marriage and the pressures of being a high-profile athlete.
• 🔄 Wilson concludes by advocating for a 'neutral' mindset, not devoid of emotion but focused on maintaining balance and perspective in the face of life's ups and downs.

Q & A

What significant event happened to Russell Wilson on June 8, 2010?

Russell Wilson was drafted as a fourth-round pick to the Colorado Rockies baseball team, which he describes as one of the highest moments of his life.

What tragic event occurred the day after Russell Wilson's baseball draft?

Russell Wilson's father passed away on June 9, 2010, which he describes as going from the highest of the high to the lowest of the low.

How does Russell Wilson describe the emotional journey from his father's death to winning the Super Bowl?

Russell Wilson recounts the emotional rollercoaster from the grief of losing his father to the exhilaration of winning a Super Bowl, highlighting the contrast between these life events.

What was the turning point for Russell Wilson after the Super Bowl loss?

Russell Wilson decided not to let the Super Bowl loss define his career or life, choosing instead to focus on his mindset and the process of moving forward.

Who is Trevor Moawad and what role does he play in Russell Wilson's life?

Trevor Moawad is Russell Wilson's mental conditioning coach who has been training his mindset for 10 years, helping him to develop a positive and resilient outlook.

What is the concept of 'neutral thinking' as explained by Russell Wilson?

Neutral thinking, as explained by Russell Wilson, is the ability to stay focused on the present moment without being overly emotional, allowing one to navigate through life's challenges effectively.

How does Russell Wilson relate his experience to Milton Wright, a young man with cancer?

Russell Wilson shares his story with Milton Wright, encouraging him to stay positive and make choices that can help him overcome his battle with cancer, using the phrase 'why not you?'

What advice does Russell Wilson give about dealing with life's challenges?

Russell Wilson advises to focus on the process, the next step, and to maintain a neutral mindset to deal with life's challenges, rather than being consumed by positivity or negativity.

What is the importance of language and visualization in shaping one's life according to Russell Wilson?

Russell Wilson emphasizes the importance of language and visualization in shaping one's life, suggesting that articulating and envisioning one's goals can help in achieving them.

How does Russell Wilson view the role of emotions in his life despite being a high-profile athlete?

Russell Wilson acknowledges that despite his success and fame, he still experiences real-life emotions such as sadness, loss, depression, and fear, and he emphasizes the importance of managing these emotions.

What is the significance of the car shifting analogy used by Russell Wilson?

The car shifting analogy is used by Russell Wilson to illustrate the importance of shifting one's mindset to 'neutral' in order to avoid being overwhelmed by negative emotions and to maintain control over one's life.

Outlines

00:00

🏈 From Draft to Life's Extremes

Russell Wilson reflects on his journey from being a fourth-round pick by the Colorado Rockies in 2010, a dream come true for any baseball enthusiast, to the tragic loss of his father the following day. He contrasts this with the highs of winning a Super Bowl and the lows of facing defeat and personal challenges like divorce. Wilson emphasizes the importance of mindset, which he honed with his mental conditioning coach, Trevor Moawad, for a decade. He discusses the concept of 'neutral thinking', suggesting it as a tool to navigate through life's ups and downs without being overwhelmed by extreme emotions. He uses the analogy of driving a car, needing to shift to neutral to avoid crashing, to explain how he copes with adversity. Wilson also shares a story of meeting Milton Wright, a young man battling cancer, and encourages him to stay positive and make choices that empower him despite his circumstances.

05:00

🚀 The Power of Neutral Mindset

Wilson delves deeper into his philosophy of maintaining a neutral mindset, which he believes is a skill that can be learned and is crucial for navigating life's challenges. He recounts his early life, where despite not having much, he chose to believe in great things and maintain a positive outlook. This mindset, he suggests, prepared him for his current successes and struggles. Wilson acknowledges that even as a successful NFL player with a public image of happiness, he still faces real-life issues like pressure, worries, and loss. He argues that while positivity can be dangerous if it's not grounded in reality, negativity is a sure path to failure. He shares his personal strategy of staying in 'neutral' to manage life's complexities, drawing on his experiences and the lessons he's learned to illustrate his point.

Keywords

💡Drafted

Being 'drafted' refers to the process where a player is selected by a professional sports team for participation in their league. In the context of the video, Russell Wilson shares his excitement about being drafted by the Colorado Rockies baseball team, which he describes as one of the highest moments of his life, illustrating the significance of this achievement in his career.

💡Emotions

Emotions are the feelings or affective states that individuals experience in response to various stimuli. The video emphasizes the importance of managing emotions, especially in high-pressure situations. Wilson discusses how he navigates through the emotional rollercoaster of his father's passing, the pressure of championship games, and personal life challenges, highlighting the necessity of emotional control in achieving success.

💡Mindset

Mindset refers to the established set of attitudes held by an individual. In the video, Wilson talks about the power of mindset and how it can be a skill that is taught and learned. He shares his personal journey of training his mind with a mental conditioning coach, emphasizing the importance of having a positive and focused mindset for success in sports and life.

💡Positivity

Positivity is the state of being optimistic and hopeful. The video script highlights the role of positivity in overcoming challenges. Wilson discusses how positivity alone might not always be effective, especially in the face of adversity, and how he learned to balance it with a neutral mindset to stay focused and resilient.

💡Negativity

Negativity is the state of being pessimistic or having a negative outlook. Wilson points out that while positivity can be dangerous in certain situations, negativity is something he never wanted to live in. He explains that negativity works 100 percent of the time in leading to a negative outcome, which is why he chose to stay in a neutral mindset.

💡Neutral Thinking

Neutral thinking is the practice of maintaining a balanced and non-emotional state of mind. In the video, Wilson explains the concept of neutral thinking as a tool to manage emotions and stay focused. He uses the analogy of shifting a car to neutral to avoid crashing, illustrating how he applied this concept to navigate through life's challenges without being overwhelmed by emotions.

💡Mental Conditioning

Mental conditioning is the process of training one's mind to improve focus, resilience, and performance. Wilson mentions working with a mental conditioning coach for ten years, which helped him develop the mental strength to handle the pressures of being an athlete and to perform at a high level consistently.

💡Language

In the context of the video, 'language' refers to the words and phrases one uses to communicate and think. Wilson talks about the importance of positive self-talk and the language one uses to frame their thoughts, which can significantly impact one's mindset and outcomes. He encourages using empowering language to envision and achieve success.

💡Pressure

Pressure refers to the stress or strain one feels in challenging situations. The video script discusses how Wilson dealt with the pressure of high-stakes games and personal life events. He shares his approach to managing pressure through mental conditioning and maintaining a neutral mindset, which allowed him to perform effectively under stress.

💡Cancer

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. In the video, Wilson shares a story about meeting a young man, Milton Wright, who had battled cancer three times. This narrative serves to illustrate the power of mindset and the importance of choosing to overcome adversity, even in the face of serious illness.

💡Choice

Choice refers to the act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities. Throughout the video, Wilson emphasizes the importance of making conscious choices in life, particularly in how one responds to challenges. He shares his personal choices to maintain a positive mindset and to focus on the process rather than solely on success or failure.

Highlights

Russell Wilson reflects on being drafted by the Colorado Rockies, calling it one of the highest moments of his life.

The emotional contrast of his father's passing the day after his baseball draft, illustrating the extreme highs and lows of life.

Wilson's recollection of early morning baseball practices with his father, highlighting the impact of his father on his career.

The thrill of winning a Super Bowl and the subsequent pressure of high-stakes games in the NFL.

The public scrutiny and personal reflection after a failed game-winning attempt.

Wilson's early marriage, its dissolution, and the realization that life happens to everyone.

The acknowledgment of life's challenges such as loss, divorce, fear, and depression.

The struggle to maintain positivity in difficult situations, like being down in a game or facing serious illness.

The realization that negativity is a sure path to nowhere and the decision to shift mindsets.

The concept of 'shifting to neutral' in life's challenges, akin to shifting gears in a car, to prevent a crash.

The decision not to let a Super Bowl loss define his career or life, emphasizing the importance of mindset.

The introduction of mental conditioning coach Trevor Moawad and the start of a decade-long partnership.

The importance of training the mind alongside physical training for athletes.

The practice of envisioning and verbalizing one's best life to manifest it.

The story of Milton Wright, a young man with cancer, and the power of choice in the face of adversity.

The question of neutral thinking and its relation to emotions, and the importance of staying focused.

Wilson's perspective on handling real-life situations despite his success and fame.

The process of shifting one's mindset from focusing on success or failure to focusing on the process.

The message of choice in life and the power of belief in one's potential for greatness.

The recognition of the human capacity for pressure, worry, and fear, even in the face of exceptional abilities.

The conclusion that while positivity can be dangerous, negativity is always detrimental, advocating for a neutral mindset.

Transcripts

June 8, 2010,

Russell Wilson, fourth-round pick to the Colorado Rockies baseball.

I'm fired up,

one of the highest moments of my life.

Every kid's dream to be drafted by a Major League Baseball team.

June 8, 2010.

June 9, 2010 --

(Imitating flatline sound)

The line goes flat.

My dad passes away.

The highest of the high

to the lowest of the low.

Just like that.

My dad laying in his deathbed,

just tears running down my face,

you know, what do I do next?

My mind racing, memories, flashbacks, moments,

early mornings, getting up,

taking grounders and throwing,

speed outs and deep post routes to my brother and my dad,

to early morning car rides to AAU baseball,

to my dad being the third-base coach.

Fast-forward to the championship high of winning a Super Bowl,

holding up the Lombardi Trophy

and the emotions and the excitement of it all,

blue and green confetti all over the place

and knowing that you just won the Super Bowl,

to a year later, the pressure of the game,

the ball on the one-yard line,

and this is the chance to win the game, and it doesn't work.

And however many millions and millions of people

all over the world watching.

And having to walk to the media,

and what do I say next, what do I do, what do I think?

Being married at a young age

and just coming out of college and everything else,

to, you know, shortly after, marriage not working out

and realizing, you know what?

Life happens.

Life happens, life happens to all of us.

Loss of family members, divorce,

fear, pain, depression, concerns, worries.

When you think about being superpositive --

yes, I'm positive by nature,

but positivity, you know, it doesn't always work,

because when you're down 16-nothing in an NFC championship game,

and people are like,

"Russ, we're not going to be able to win this game, man,

it's not a great situation right now,"

or when you're facing cancer,

or when you have things you have to deal with

or finances and this and that,

like, how do we deal with it?

It's hard to be positive in the midst of it all.

And what I definitely knew was this:

that negativity works 100 percent of the time.

Negativity was going to get me nowhere.

I started saying to myself, "New are his mercies every morning,"

new beginnings, new starts.

And despite hardship and pain and worries and wanting to get through it

and "How do I do this?",

I started thinking about a car.

You know how when you drive a car, you've got stick shift

and you want to shift to neutral?

You go from first gear to second gear, all the way to fifth?

You've got to know how to shift to neutral.

And I needed to shift to neutral immediately, before I crashed.

Sitting there after the Super Bowl,

I had a decision to make:

Will I let this define my career? Will I let it define my life?

Hell, no.

What I found out was this: that mindset is a skill.

It can be taught and learned.

I started 10 years ago, training my mind,

with this guy named Trevor Moawad, my mental conditioning coach.

He's been with me for 10 years,

and we've been best friends and partners ever since.

As athletes, we train the body,

we train ourselves to be able to run fast, throw farther, jump higher

and do these different things,

but why don't we train our mind?

What do you want your life to look like?

Write it out, talk about it, say it.

What's our language, what does it look like,

watch these highlights, Russell, when you're in your best moments.

What does that look like?

And be that, live that, sound like that.

The best free throw shooters,

they don't worry about the shot they just missed.

They think about this shot,

this putt, this throw, this first down.

Then I met this kid Milton Wright, 19 years old,

he had cancer three different times.

This day when I went to see him, he was frustrated,

"Russ, I'm done, I don't want to do this anymore,

it's my time to go."

I started telling him this story about my dad,

how he used to say, "Son, why not you?

Why don't you graduate early, play pro football and pro baseball?

Why not you, why not you?"

I said, "Milton, why not you?

If you tried T-cell therapy,

and you try this and it doesn't work,

you won't remember it."

So Milton got a smile on his face and said,

"You're exactly right.

Yes, I do have cancer, Russ.

But I can either let this kill me,

not just physically,

but I can also let it kill me emotionally and mentally.

And I have a choice right now, in the midst of the problem,

in the midst of the storm,

to decide to overcome."

One of the questions I always get asked about neutral thinking is this:

"Does that mean I don't have any emotion?"

And I always say, absolutely not.

Yeah, we have emotions,

we have real-life situations,

we have things to deal with.

But what you have to be able to do is to stay focused on the moment

and to not be superemotional.

It's OK to have emotions, but don't be emotional.

When people look at me,

they see that I'm the highest-paid player in the NFL,

they see that I have the girl and Ciara,

that I have the family and this and that.

But I still have real-life situations.

We all do.

We all have, you know, sadness and loss

and depression and worries and fear.

I didn't just get here.

What's the truth,

and how do I come through this better?

And that's really, kind of, how my mind started shifting.

It was not just on the success of it all or the failure of it,

it was on the process, like:

What is the next step, how do I do this right here, right now?

We have a choice to make in life.

And for me, when I was young and I didn't have much,

I made a choice.

I made a choice that I was going to believe

that great things were going to happen,

that I was going to have my mindset right,

and I was going to have the right language

and the right things to think about,

which helped prepare me for today.

Because I'm just human.

I just have the ability to throw the ball a long way

and run around and make some cool and fun throws

and make some people smile.

But the reality is that I still have pressure,

I still have worries, I still have fears,

I still have things that happen.

Still have loss.

Positivity can be dangerous.

But what always works is negativity.

I never wanted to live in negativity,

so I stayed in neutral.

I kept my shift in neutral.

And so that's where I lived,

and that's where I've been living ever since.