Kara Lawson – Is There Such a Thing as Too Driven?

Dear Coach,

I run on the high-school athletics team, and recently I've become obsessed with being the best on my team. Like, it's all I think about. I turn everything into a competition—even training. This need to win motivates me to train hard and put everything into my races, but I've noticed I'm more impatient and stressed than before, and some of my teammates don't want to be my friend because I take things so seriously. Can I use this competitive drive as an edge, or will it end up getting in my way?

Hungry but Also Miserable
17-year-old athlete

It's great that you're competitive, HAM. I get it. And I share your drive.

I started training to win at age 3. Inspired by sprinter Evelyn Ashford winning gold at the '84 Olympics, I'd try to race cars—on foot, from the pavement—as they drove past my house in Alexandria, Virginia. I can't imagine what my parents thought of me!

That competitive drive still fuels me, just like it fuels you. But it sounds as though your drive is coming at a cost. And that's something you'll want to get ahead of before you end up hating your sport.

I want to help you as much as I can, but I also want you to talk to your own coach about what you're feeling, because they'll be able to follow up with you. You might even ask them to connect you with a therapist or sports psychologist, to help you find some balance. I perform at my best when I offset competition with recovery and downtime. And it's when I feel happiest.

To achieve balance, I look for moments when I can focus on all the non-basketball things I love. What do you love to do off the track? Maybe it's playing with your dog, listening to music or spending time with your family. It doesn't matter what it is, as long as it gives you some mental space. And if you can't seem to relax straight away, be patient with yourself.

You can even look for opportunities to refocus during breaks in training, on the team bus or in the changing rooms. When I was a point guard in Tennessee, my coach, Pat Summitt, would make me give speeches to the team on topics that didn't have much to do with basketball. At first, it felt terrifying (and, if I'm being honest, pointless), but then it clicked. Coach Summitt was trying to show me that connecting with others could empower me—and my teammates.

Speaking of your teammates, one way to bond with them is by taking a genuine interest in what they like, aside from competition. Find out what you have in common with them, whether it's films, music or style. You don't have to like all of the same things your teammates do or spend all of your time with them, but making these connections can help build positive energy.

Another thing that might be contributing to your obsession with winning is a fear of losing, which is something that a lot of athletes struggle with. In the immediate aftermath, losing sleep or being upset is part of the experience. But if that continues in the long term? That's not a good sign.

Keeping your losses in perspective is really important. Look, athletes aren't born pro or able to handle high-stakes situations perfectly. I sure wasn't. Getting there required a lot of success—but also a lot of failure. In basketball, there might be 12 mistakes made on a single possession, even in game six of the NBA Finals. Of course, no one wants to make mistakes, but they happen. And when they've happened to me, I've relied on my resilience to help me move forwards.

One way you can build your resilience is by giving yourself a break when you make a mistake—and to your teammates, too. Shifting your mindset takes practice. But if you stick with it, you won't just continue to master your sport, you'll also continue to love it.

Coach Lawson