Probably the most important thing to remember is that you will forever be changing your short-term goals - as once these events are passed, you will then go on to create new ones. So it's important not to fall in love with your goals too much, because regardless of how you fare, no doubt you will be moving past those goals and onto new ones.
This means that there will 'always be another day', and even though that one race might seem hugely important to you, when you look back in years to come, you will see that it was much less important than it actually appears to be right now. This is the mindset of champions - that each goal is important, but then once it is over, they take that experience and immediately re-focus their energies upon the next goal.
This is not to say you must rush out and begin working at your next goal immediately, especially if you're feeling a bit 'flat'. If you feel you need, take a little time off and then come back refreshed and ready to embark upon your next grand 'quest'. This is all part of the bouncing back process that is an essential part of every great swimmer. You simply can't afford to take losses too hard, because you must quickly move forward and focus upon the next goal, otherwise you get left behind. You must learn from the experience, rekindle your energy and enthusiasm, and then move forward boldly into the future.
It's natural to feel a let-down when you don't achieve a large goal - that's absolutely OK and don't beat yourself up about that. But learn from, get over it, and move forward.
The world will continue to turn - so put the race into its proper perspective, and file the race into your 'ancient history' folder. Then, draft out your new goals on paper, and plan your next moves - ensuring your focus remains 100% on the new goal and that you do not 'flashback' to the old one any longer.
Clean the slate completely, and then draft out a new plan of attack. Move powerfully into the future, twice as strong, eager and hungry to succeed at your new goal - and then the next goal, and the next, and so on.
Refuse to dwell on the race and the things that did not go right. This can't be changed (not in reality anyway, but if the race bothers you too much you may wish to change the result of the race in your daily visualization, which works quite effectively). Also, know that after a bad race, you are now a completely different and more formidable swimmer to the swimmer you were before the race, as you are now armed with experience which you will use to your advantage in future.
So if you achieve your goals, celebrate them - and then move on. If you don't achieve your goal - just move on, and plan the next. Make a concerted effort to boost yourself up mentally with some upbeat positive music, movies, videos, books or friends, anything (healthy) that will lift your spirits and keep you from focusing upon the past. Write down your new goals and begin to get yourself fired up about them until the old goal is erased from your mind forever.
Remember that if 2 swimmers are of the same strength, talent and training, then only mental strength will separate them - so work at being the mentally strongest in the pool and it will always take care of you. Of course, you may come across swimmers who are mentally stronger than you, so learn from them, and move further forward.
Champions are known for their powerful response to temporary setbacks - they learn from them and come back stronger than ever. Keep this is mind and springboard into future success.
The Mind controls the body, and the mind is unlimited. The best of success,
Craig Townsend
