Practice and Confidence
Yesterday I wrote about running 23.4 miles by completing a mile, 5K, 10K, and half marathon during the Flying Pig Skyline Chili 3-Way Challenge last weekend. What I didn’t mention was that I rode 50 miles on a stationary bike for more than 3 hours afterwards for an endurance bike event that unfortunately happened to fall on the same weekend.
As anyone who’s ever done long-distance running or bike events will tell you, it’s not just about being fit. Believe me, I’m not. Sure, being in shape is important, but it’s only have the battle.
Your mind, your attitude, and your mental grit are equally important. That’s because, when you’re nearing the “Finish Swine” (the Flying Pig’s finish line) and your body is on the verge of giving up, it’s your mind that will push you over the tape.
But a well-trained mind doesn’t just come in handy in long-distance runs or endurance bike rides. It’s important for studying for the bar exam, too.
I recently listened to Mind Gym: An Athlete’s Guide to Inner Excellence, which sheds light on the important role our minds play in physical performance and athletic excellence. But the book isn’t just for athletes. The book is relevant for anyone seeking greater focus and motivation as they work toward a goal—like passing the bar exam.
We all know the old Nike slogan: Just do it. You might also know that, for all its simplicity, this advice is often hard to follow.
Why? Negative thinking stops us from taking action.
Our thoughts sometimes impact us precisely the way we don't want them to. For example, when I first learned to golf, and there was water in front of me, I usually found myself uttering these words: Don’t hit it in the water … don’t hit it in the water … don’t hit it in the water. Don't. Hit. It. In. The. Water.
Guess what? Plop. I hit it in the water.
Why? Even though I might have hit the same shot at the driving range hundreds of times, my thoughts were so focused on the water on the golf course that my body began aiming for it.
Avoid outcomes like this by focusing on what you want, not all the things you're afraid might happen.
Now, when there’s water in front of me, I picture the golf ball's flight traveling over the water and landing in the fairway or on the green. I remember all the prior great shots I’ve hit rather than the few I’ve hit into the water. I picture success.
Of course, the power of thought alone can't carry us toward success. It's the combination of physical training and mental training that allows us to perform to our full potential.
The book further explains the importance of both PRACTICE (physical training) and CONFIDENCE (mental training).
Here’s an interesting study from the book that looked at three groups of basketball players. The first group took free throws for one hour. The second group sat and visualized their free throws for an hour. The third group did both for 30 minutes each. When it came to the free throws afterwards, the third group outperformed the others by making significantly far more baskets.
The author rhetorically posed the question: What separates those who perform consistently from those who don’t?
It’s confidence. The author defines confidence as “emotionally knowing that you are prepared.”
Confidence is the result of preparation. To paraphrase Charles Lindbergh, there is no shorter road to defeat than by being inadequately prepared.
As you finish up law school and prepare for the bar exam (though the two aren’t mutually exclusive!), know that three years of law school, your preparation, your adherence to your commercial bar review program, your submission of the essays and MPT assignments, your participation in your law school's supplemental program, and your mind, attitude, and mental grit will all converge together to give you the practice and confidence to pass the bar exam.
