You did a good job with this piece Peter Sellick. but why pick on elite sportsmen alone as the example. Your theory on the damage of unrealistic thinking, fits more into the misadventure of the education departments forced hold over the thinking processes of the children in their charge.

Shock horror; on this AM news, children are now suffering nervous breakdowns at the realisation, without demonstrated ability to do so, they may not achieve their HSC certification.

Adding to the pressure is graduating from Hospital maternity wards.
Nappy and guzzling skills are taught in crash intensive weekends.
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I see you believe you've lost something Peter? And are now very much the fish out of water and floundering around, wondering, WTF just happened?

We used to have moral authority backed by unshakeable certainty!? Only to have confounded facts, completely burst that bubble? Except for the willfully blind!

As for belief, there's a place for it! Absolutely!

Believe in your dreams and yourself! The mighty irrefutable truth and righteous causes!

One of which needs must be, holding Leaders and their wannabes to account for the harm they do and the mountains of BS, shovelled by the shipload by them, in their quest for POWER for its own sake!?

There's a righteous record, which must be set straight! And just with the plain unvarnished truth! And with that in play? Let the chips fall where they may!

Remember always, it's not always the strongest, fastest man who wins the race. But rather, the one who believes he can, and persists with indominal will!

Visualizing that very outcome, backed by belief only needing to be as large as a grain of mustard seed, seems to help manifest desired outcomes enormously. [Giving up/quitting, never ever manifests anything, except self defeat and endless despair!]

Remember, it can only be applied at a personal level and just not available as a control mechanism, applicable to the lives/outcomes of others! And exampled by the golfer, focusing exclusively on the green and where the ball needs to land. And what iron he needs to get on in one!

Rather than focusing on avoiding the visually intervening water hazard or sand trap! The distance to the pin/destination or dream realization remains unchanged, regardless of the challenges between!

And the latter, not where the focus should be! Unless it's the intended destination/outcome! Just completely eliminate the (must nots) negative imperatives/life's water hazards!

Even a thousand mile journey begins with the first step. And ends with the last one! One doesn't know what they're capable of achieving, if they but try!

And typified/personified in the Churchill family motto? Never give up, never give up, never give up!
Alan B.

SportsMEN are so often the target of feminists to 'diss' men and often,
just because'. So when religion is felling a bit unloved one might as well go with the flow and use them as the whipping boys once again, I suppose.

But the life of the sportsperson in one of constant self-denial delayed gratification for many years years then only the prospect, no guarantee. Years of suffering, living the monastic existence, painful operations for over-stressed tissue and bone, while other around you enjoy life. It and it starts in early school.

I would say that has much more in common with the life of denial and hope for some better life one day that is taught to children by religion. Worse, that we are born blighted by original sin, must lead lives of denial to atone and genuflect to the dictates of individuals and organisations that can be deeply flawed themselves.

Talking of men who grow up in Australia, the socialisation and expectations of them, much of it coming from religion, denies them their humanity, cripples them, especially the stoicism and denial of self and renders them nigh incapable of enjoying their bodies, relationships and life. Stoicism that puts off the doctor's consultation - damn, can the husband, father, even afford the time off if the changes in bowel habits is cancer?

The future for Australian men is to work through what social psychologists are discovering about happiness and that isn't the Californian hedonistic construct. Nor is it narrow stoicism, duty and sacrifice, constant denial of self, demanded by society and the church.

Happiness depends on men being able to experience and find natural the whole range of emotions that is their birthright, and enjoy the meaningful life and sense of real contribution, that they are usually denied by society and religion. The very last thing they should do is to rely on women, priests and the State to take the initiative for them. It Australian men keep doing what they have always been doing they will always lead stunted lives.

2c worth

Like Ali they call me "The Greatest", but I don't believe it.

"Here's your helicopter Mum to collect you, Billy"
"Cool, Dundee, have a nice afternoon"
"You have a great evening"
"Fantastic, enjoy your wonderful night"
"And have an awesome rest of the week"
"Your Dad's excellent but not a smash-hit golfer like mine"
"He's a performance athlete but my Dad is super hero of the decade"
"Load of absolute crap you loser ( swipe)"
"Outta here (punch)"
" (slam)"
"(one punch)"