It felt tight but I’m a tough guy. I could play through it.
Second possession of the first game my whole leg locked up.
I pulled my hamstring in my right leg.
After some ice, Advil and a depressed night of sleep I visited the training staff. They advised me to stretch my hip flexor (in front of my leg) and gave me exercises to strengthen my glute.
“But I pulled my hamstring…”
My deficiencies had nothing to do with my hamstring. A tight hip flexor caused my hips to sit forward, straining the hamstring. A weak glute required my stressed hamstring to do more work.
Lengthen the hip flexor, strengthen the glute, relax the hamstring.
The problem is rarely what we initially think it is.
I had a terrible hitch in my jump shot form. Coach after coach tried to get me to smooth out my stroke.
“Shoot in one motion,” they implored.
“Shoot on the way up!”
None of it helped.
Then a coach adjusted my hand placement on the ball.
Tracing back to the root cause of the hitch as it related to biomechanics, he helped me smooth out my stroke with some conscious repetitions.
The problem is rarely what we initially think it is.
That argument you had with your spouse wasn’t about taking the trash out.
You aren’t frustrated with him because of repeated mistakes.
Usually the true answer is below the surface, related to identity.
He introduced a new gadget to our coaching staff. I could feel myself tighten up and get defensive as they drooled over its features. The product had some value, but all I could feel was, “The space is too crowded. You have no place here. You are not special. You might as well give up.”
Usually the suffocation is coming from a strangle hold on our identity.
You don’t belong. You don’t feel safe. You won’t be taken care of.
Gain an awareness of this in you.
Then gain an awareness of this in those close to you, the ones you lead.
Then watch time slow down and you start to navigate conflict like a Jedi master.
This is what we excel in. Let us help you unblock your best self.