What Can Athletes Learn From The Great American Bison?

Bison is my word for 2022.

American settlers moving west decimated the bison population from over 30 million in the 1800s to only 541 total in 1889. That is insane! Present-day there are roughly 500,000 total American bison. Even though the bison’s resilience to even exist is amazing, that was not the deciding factor in making them my word for 2022.

It was their relationship with storms.

When a storm approaches a herd of bison they will wait for the storm to get very close. When the storm hits, bison begin to accelerate and stampede into the storm. Picture that, they collectively face the problem head-on. Bison reduce the long-term exposure of the adversity by running right through it and in fact getting it over with quicker. Compared to livestock who typically run away, prolonging stress and fatigue because they end up running with the storm for a longer period of time.

The life lesson there for athletes is to be bold. Reduce long-term exposure by creating space for self-awareness, understanding the situation, and leaning into difficult conversations. Compared to avoiding a problem, dwelling, delaying, and creating more of a stress response. Accelerating into the storm could be leaning into the demands of finals week, having difficult conversations as early as you possibly can, or consistently training to come back better from an injury. Approaching challenges with an adaptive learning mindset and being bold.

Face Fear Head On. Accelerate Into It. Early & Often. Thrive Because Of It.

Best Day of the Year, Until Tomorrow…

Ferate

(Credit Photo by Elijah pilchard on Unsplash)