Feet On The Ground

Inner Calmness by Nature

I am naturally a calm person, and in some situations, it’s almost like I have to force myself to react. For the most part, I consider this personality trait to be a strength – both on the field and in life in general. However, there is also a bold and energetic side of me that especially comes out while playing. This doesn’t conflict with my calmness, but complements it. When I manage to balance these two qualities, I feel like things flow best, both in life and on the field. Finding this balance is one of my most important goals.

Calmness Learned at Home

I believe that this is partly an inherent trait, but I also feel my parents have strengthened it with their approach to life. Even in moments of failure or success, they never reacted excessively. They were, of course, happy for me in joyful moments and comforted me when life was a bit tough. But they always kept their feet on the ground, never overreacting.

Protection or Strength?

Sometimes I wonder if I’m hiding a fear of loss beneath all this calmness. Is this just my way of protecting myself from greater feelings of disappointment, avoiding getting too excited?

Balance on a Smaller Scale

Even though this mindset might partly serve as a defense mechanism, I see it as a healthy one. I consider myself mentally quite strong – and it’s hard to shake me easily.

Haha – there’s, of course for example, one everyday situation that used to shake me quite a lot, and I’m probably not the only one. When I stubbed my toe on the edge of a table and cursed all the damn things in the world, I would go on and on about it afterward. The next day, my toe would still hurt. Nowadays, if I bump my toe into something, I just think, "Alright, that doesn’t feel great, but let's move on." I feel the pain but continue on without dwelling on it – and the pain fades away faster. I believe this mindset works the same way with bigger life challenges: acknowledging and accepting what’s happened, but not getting too stuck on it. I believe that pain only comes from my reaction to it.

Dreams on the Ground

Just as I’ve approached life in a rather neutral way, I’ve never been one to idolize others. Not that there’s anything wrong with that – it just doesn’t suit me. I do take lessons from other players, but I feel that excessive admiration and "worship" can diminish oneself and take you further from your own goals. Often – not always – when I hear someone idolizing another person, it’s clear that they don’t believe they can achieve the same. They see that person as some kind of superhuman. But they, too, are just regular people.

For me, for example the Olympics are a big and important goal, but in the end, they are just another tournament among many. This mindset helps remove unnecessary pressure – especially the fear of losing it. It makes the process more relaxed and free. And I believe it’s this mindset that separates the good from the best.

The Journey Continues, Regardless of Results

I’ve sometimes wondered if this mindset fits into competitive sports. Isn’t it true that athletes should get upset after a loss and be happy at the moment of victory – otherwise, how could they say it really matters to them?

However, I would say that an athlete with this mindset has enough self-confidence to trust that a loss is just part of the process. They can take the necessary lessons and continue the journey without dwelling too much on it. Just as important as staying grounded after a loss is maintaining that balance after a win. We all know what happens when you get too caught up in feelings of satisfaction.

Emotions Are Part of Life – But They Shouldn’t Lead It

Although I may not experience that much emotional swings, I wouldn’t say that emotions don’t come up at all. But when they do, it’s good to let them come – without letting them control your life.

In the end, calmness isn’t just a trait for me – it’s a way of living and facing the world. It doesn’t exclude passion, but rather gives it a clear direction. Emotions are part of life, but they don’t need to guide it. I believe that balance, the ability to pause and see things as they are, are the factors that will take me forward towards my goals – calmly, but with a firm grip.

These are just my thoughts, so it would be interesting to discuss and hear how others balance calmness and enthusiasm in their own lives!

Calmness is a trait not often associated with passion or determination – especially in sports. However, for me, inner tranquility doesn't mean indifference, but rather the ability to stay balanced in any situation. It has been an important resource for me, both in everyday life and in competitive settings. This post reflects on what calmness means to me, where it comes from, and how it influences my approach to goals, losses, and victories.