great performers never just hope they'll be on top of their game. Rather, they actively create the specific conditions that will elicit their persona… - Brad Stulberg

simply telling yourself "I am excited" shifts your demeanor from what they call a threat mindset (stressed out and apprehensive) to an opportunity mindset (revved up and ready to go). "Compared to those who attempt to calm down," the authors conclude, "individuals who reappraise their anxious arousal as excitement perform better." Put differently: The sensations you feel prior to a big event are neutral — if you view them in a positive light, they are more likely to have a positive impact on your performance. These

Fear [perhaps the most potent form of stress] is there for me in every aspect of kayaking, whether I'm preparing for a run on the biggest waterfall or before my final ride at the world championships. I don't hide from it or try to ignore it. I feel the sensation and channel it to help me focus, to nail the line or to put up the biggest ride I can.

Growth comes at the point of resistance; we learn by pushing ourselves to the outer reaches of our abilities.