Performance Lessons from Stoicism
Seeing things for what they are
“The observing eye sees what is. The perceiving eye sees what things supposedly are.” - Ryan Holiday, The Obstacle is the Way
Emotions are not necessary for motor movement and skill execution, and yet, they often play a large role in our performance. You don’t need to feel confident in order to perform, it’s just a nice to have. Similarly, you don’t have to be free of worry and anxiety in order to perform, it’s just easier when we are.
We often perceive thoughts, feelings, and emotions, and even situations as either “good” or “bad.” Our perception leads us to cling to the good and push away the bad. But in doing so, we cloud the objective reality of what’s happening.
Thankfully, our ability to separate subjective experience from objective experience is a skill that can be trained. Mindfulness, journaling, or speaking with a trusted friend or partner are examples of practices that can help delineate between the two.
