card you draw for a teaching assignment. Others, like how much sleep you got the night before, are up to you.
PERMANENT VS. CHANGEABLE Some things you cannot change, but others are fixable. You cannot change the degree of pitch of a given trail or the format of your exam, for example. Furthermore, some things seem permanent but they really aren’t. You may hear exasperated instructors lament, “I’m not athletic.” Is that a permanent state, or can it be changed? It depends on several factors, not the least of which is one’s outlook. Strength and agility can be improved with training. But body type and personality are more permanent factors. Now revisit the list above and see how
the various reasons fit into this matrix. So, as you embark on a journey to
recover from a setback, a first step is to sort out what you can fix and what you can’t. Tere’s not much sense in dwelling on the exam format, how tall you are, or unpredictable weather events. Tese factors are out of your control. Instead, hone in on the factors that you can work on.
Train to Diminish the Intimidation As you delve into this, you may find that your interpretation of what is in your control may change depending on how you view things. For example, “riding in front of an examiner was intimidating” is an external factor that is outside your control and is permanent. Seems dire, right? But with further thought, how you respond to an intimidating environment is up to you. Tere are specific ways to train that can help you gain a foothold in competitive situations. As you practice, you may find that this roadblock is not so permanent after all. Internal, permanent factors can also lead to a hopeless feeling. While working toward his Level II alpine certification, Scott’s confidence sometimes wavered. “Maybe I’m not cut out for this,” he said. “Maybe this is the end of the line for me.” Sports psychologists warn that we should avoid generalizing outcomes to the point where they define our whole being. If you failed bump riding, it doesn’t mean you are unathletic or old, it means you need to work on your bump tactics, skills, or ability to make dynamic movements.
RECOGNIZE FACTORS WITHIN AND BEYOND YOUR CONTROL
In some cases, a particular reason could fall in a different column, depending on your interpretation. It’s a personal process. How would you categorize these factors?
INTERNAL
I didn’t understand the exam process
Nobody told me what to expect
My area does not have expert terrain to practice on
I don’t like riding in bumps
My skis were too fat for carved turns
I didn’t practice my demos enough
Riding in front of an examiner was intimidating
I don’t like riding in bumps
My skis were too fat for carved turns
I didn’t practice my demos enough
Riding in front of an examiner was intimidating
EXTERNAL
WITHIN YOUR CONTROL
I didn’t understand the exam process
Nobody told me what to expect
My area does not have expert terrain to practice on
I don’t like riding in bumps
My skis were too fat for carved turns
I didn’t practice my demos enough
Riding in front of an examiner was intimidating
Sports psychologists advise us to work toward explanations that are internal, within your control, and changeable. After all, these are the things that you can fix. On the other hand, factors that are external, out of your control, and permanent can stack up and make things seem overwhelming or unfair.
THESNOWPROS.ORG | 89
OUTSIDE YOUR CONTROL
CHANGEABLE
I didn’t understand the exam process
Nobody told me what to expect
My area does not have expert terrain to practice on
PERMANENT
Bill sums this up perfectly: “Not passing my exam is not a failure. It’s a means of getting better.”
Face Your ‘Faults’ Head-On Interestingly, an explanation can lie on opposite sides of the spectrum depending on how you look at it. While it may feel comforting to pinpoint blame on external factors, don’t shortchange your ability to address them head-on. For example, “Nobody told me what to expect” is another way of saying, “I didn’t understand the exam process.” Expecting someone to tell you everything you need to know is an external factor and is out of your hands. But improving your own understanding is something you can change; it’s an internal factor. Similarly, the reasoning that “my area does not have expert terrain to practice on” is external and permanent. But you can alter your training plan to include travel to a different resort. In that regard, this factor is within your control. Tis approach can lead you to a more
productive and empowering path to preparation. In nearly all cases, one’s outlook evolves
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