The Future Won’t Come from Pressure, It Comes from Presence
- RIZE
- Nov 5
- 3 min read
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For every player staring down their last college season and wondering what’s next.
You’ve been feeling that weight: last season, big goals, big uncertainty. That’s natural. But the future won’t come from pressure. It comes from presence.
When your mind starts racing ahead to future opportunities or to the absence of opportunities, and all the “what ifs”, you can lose track of the present moment and potentially step away from what helps you be a better player today.
Worrying won’t give you certainty about the future, and stressing won’t help you perform better in the next game. So the goal is to focus on what’s happening now and take your control back.
1. Control What You Can Control
Right now, your head’s in outcomes: stats, roles, opportunities. Those are results, not controllables. What you can control is how you show up today.
Set performance goals (your own standard). Set process goals (the behaviors that drive that standard).
Say it out loud: “ Sprint the floor every possession.” “ Close the gaps.” “ Fight for every rebound.”
Focus on actions, not outcomes. That’s how performance is built, by stacking controllable wins every moment.
2. Bring Energy to Your Team and Lead
You don’t wait to feel confident or focused to bring energy to the team and lead. You build focus and confidence by bringing energy and leading.
Bringing energy to the team isn’t emotion. It’s grounding you and anchoring you into what’s happening in the present moment. It’s connecting you to the team. And the reality is that while you’re talking to your teammates, you’re not talking to yourself. Leading vocally is a guarantee that you’re not unintentionally saying disempowering things to yourself in your mind.
Every practice, every game, set leadership targets: “If I catch myself being silent, I’ll clap and cheer.” “I’ll bring energy to the warmups.” “I’ll be the loudest when things get tense.”
Do that daily. That’s your version of control. That’s your way out of your own head.
3. Turn Pressure into Purpose
Pressure in your mind says, “I have to prove myself.” Purpose says, “I’m here to grow today.”
When your mind whispers, “I can’t mess this up, this is my shot, I have to take it,” flip it to: “I’m here to train who I’ll be next. This is where I put effort to become better. This is not where I’m judged.”
That shift from fear to purpose frees your mind and frees your game. You stop chasing perfection and focus on building mastery, one game at a time.
4. Command the Moment
When pressure and mental distractions hit mid-game or mid-practice, use a short reset: Inhale: “I’m here.” Exhale: “I bring energy.”
If a negative thought sneaks in, say “Stop.” Replace it with a cue: “Be vocal.” “Attack.” “Feet set.”
That’s not some soft trick. That’s mental control.
5. Win the Day
End every session with a few questions: Did I focus on the moment? Did I execute the tasks I was supposed to at my best? Did mental distractions hit me? If yes, how did I respond to them?
You don’t need to prove your future. You need to practice who you want to be in that future.
Play free. Lead with intention. Be fully here.
What Comes Next
This season isn’t just about sports. It’s also about building who you will be in the future.
Between sessions, give your mind a different court: Dive into things that recharge you, like music, friendships, worship, anything beyond sports. Start exploring what else fires you up, maybe business, photography, tech, personal development, anything that will give you a sense of joy and meaning beyond your sport. Keep learning about the mental game. Mental toughness is not something you turn on and off. It’s something you need to break down, understand, learn about, and practice every day.
You’re not just preparing for next season. You’re preparing for life.
