Sneakers

 I started watching a show on Disney+ called “The World According to Jeff Goldblum.” First of all, watching Jeff Goldblum host a show is very entertaining. The first episodes was all about the world of sneakers, from conventions to special sneaker makers to the science of how to design the sneaker. What I found really interesting is that while designing it, they study the reaction to the look of the shoe: from style, color, shape, etc, registering the emotional reaction with a device. They suggested that pleasure from how the shoe looks will ensure it’s performance on someone’s foot. Basically, because I like how the shoe looks, I believe it will feel good on my foot, and ergo it will. Jeff Goldblum also talked to some former basketball players about sneakers they wear to play, and they emphasized how even if they feel as though they are having an off day, if their trainer hands them a new pair of shoes suddenly they have a stellar game day. The confidence in their shoes, meaning looking good and new, enhances their performance. 

The idea of your gear enhancing your performance is something I want to explore. First, there are definitely bad products out there that can hinder your performance. But once you get to a certain price point and quality, I feel like the slight differences in similar quality products should not impact how you perform. The higher end products may feel more comfortable, gloves may fit your hands better, shoes may feel lighter, but changing your skill in a significant way seems more like a placebo effect. I have had many clients that go through product after product, convinced that the next thing they buy will make them stellar, but I know as their trainer it’s not the product that’s holding them back, it’s themselves. 

I also like this idea expressed by the basketball players, that if they are handed new sneakers before a game they perform even better despite not feeling it that day. We can’t have a new product every time we get into the ring, but I have heard people who perform or go out networking create a secret with themselves in order to have more confidence. This could be wearing a special amulet, or I’ve heard about people not wearing underwear, or feeling like a spirit or entity is helping them. This secret gives them an edge, makes them feel like they have a power no one else knows about. That confidence helps performance and creates a belief in their own abilities. 

The last idea I want to address is should we look for this shortcut at all? We shouldn’t need a new product, fancy equipment, or a secret to fuel our performance, it should come from our hard work and skill. So how do we avoid this mental strategy all together? My instinctual response would be to let it all go. Let go of the need to have an outside force or object guide your skill, let go of the expectations for yourself, let go of looking for an answer that eliminates your inhibition. This is much easier said then done, and also dangerous concept. If you are truly able to let go of all of that, that may mean you no longer care about performing at all. Letting go of the need to have a placebo effect help you perform may lead to letting go of the reason you’re in the ring. When reading about the concept of enlightenment, there are always warnings to pursuing such a goal. True enlightenment, as I understand it, is rising above human needs, emotions, and attachments to their world. This is why famous monks and spiritual leaders hide away in the mountains, they no longer have a need for other people, food, and pleasure in life. They suggest to only seek that stage of being if you are truly ready to let go of it all. 

So maybe, letting go of the extra to help us perform, since in theory we should just rely on our skill, means that we no longer truly care about our performance. Caring about the small things such as the weight of our shoes, the look of our gloves, or the special underwear we are wearing, means that boxing is still important to us. Despite not needing those extra things in theory, in reality needing those mind tricks shows we still have an investment in why we box. 

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