Beyond the Game: The Power of Celebration
By Quentin (Q) Williams, mindset coach & former D-1 dual-sport athlete
When’s the last time you celebrated? No, I mean think about the last time you were so proud that you did a touchdown dance, a sack dance, threw your fists in the air, and EMBODIED your celebration?! When’s the last time you felt the goosebumps from a huge “win?” How about a small “win” like finding your lost keys? Maybe you celebrate after eating a healthy meal. Have you ever celebrated the fact that you woke up for another day? And where did that celebration live? Did you keep it in your mind and to yourself, or did you express it in your body? Did you really let yourself feel it and be it? The concept of “being” it (embodiment) is the key that we’ll focus on in this Beyond the Game special. Move your body! Generate goosebumps and acknowledge the daily “wins,” big and small, which are present everywhere in your life.
Celebration Might Be Uncomfortable
And as a sidelined athlete, even just thinking about these celebrations might feel disingenuous - and you might really miss those displays of camaraderie and success in the locker room or on the court/field/etc. Plus, celebrating like this might feel like something only your “old self” did. Something you could only do when you made an astronomical physical effort. I get it, I mean we don’t see Judy the secretary at work dabbing and high stepping after she submits her TPS reports. But you’re not Judy - you’re different. As a former athlete, you’ve been hard-wired for being results-oriented. Score x number of goals, win this title, be the starter (remember S.M.A.R.T. goals?!). Your body (including something called your subconscious mind) is used to those full-body celebrations.
While your new life goals after being sidelined might be different (and of course, that hurts), you’ll find your new life and purpose after sport has a deep craving for goals big and small to be set and results to be achieved. This part of us, no one can ever take away; it’s a superpower to be so driven in life. And as you’ll learn, setting and achieving goals - and most importantly the celebration that follows creates momentum, releases powerful endorphins, and generates all-important self-satisfaction in your life post-sport.
Celebration Creates Momentum in Your Life
Think of the biggest games of your career - how was momentum created and sustained? See, small wins lead to massive results (ex. several 4-yard gains turning into several first downs and lead to a gain in confidence and a reading of the defense - culminating in a big play to seal the deal for a touchdown).
Every time we overlook a win, we miss a learning opportunity as to what’s working and how that can lead to opportunities in the future.
Never miss an opportunity to celebrate the “small wins” in life. The same applies to life after sport. When we miss an opportunity to celebrate getting that job interview, or asking that guy/girl out, we miss an opportunity to tell our subconscious mind what’s working, what’s effective.
Practice #1: Powerful journaling prompt: At the end of the day, write out responses the following:
What worked today? What actions or ways of being were effective? (i.e. courageous, focus, etc.)
What didn’t work today? What actions or ways of being were ineffective? (i.e. avoidant, insecure, irresponsible)
What am I celebrating today? (really go for it here, and let the celebration envelope your body)
Embodying Celebration Releases Endorphins
Scientifically, what happens when we celebrate (very similar to “gratitude practices”) is we release endorphins in our system. The benefits of celebration and the releasing of endorphins to the brain include: easing of depression, reducing stress and anxiety, boosting self-esteem, reduced weight, and even reduction of pain. Powerful stuff! And the important piece is moving your body, what I call “full expression” - plus, doing is more powerful than thinking!
Practice #2: Celebration dance/signal: This is an embodied celebration for self-satisfaction & energetic release.
Imagine your favorite, most powerful play of your favorite game. . . Go back, remember the plays and practices leading up to it. The conversations, the coaching, the sweat, the visualization, what you ate beforehand, how you slept beforehand, everything leading up to it. . . Imagine now the play, the moment, the opening, the situation, the approach, and imagine yourself back in those shoes... and go for it. Make the play in your mind. Take yourself right back to that place.
Then recall how you celebrated that play - what did you DO? Did you do high-knees, did you flex your muscles, squeezing your fists? Did you do a victory dance, did you hug those around you, did you throw your fists in the air, did you scream?! Did you say “YEEEAAAAHHHHH!?!?!?” Whatever you did in that moment, THAT is your celebration dance/signal. It’s yours, and it’s unique to you.
Now set a timer for 2 minutes, close your eyes, and take yourself to that moment. When the timer ends, I want you to embody that moment fully. Celebrate it fully and outrageously again. Get after it!
For the next week, - pick out three or more things throughout each day and celebrate with this move. It’s okay if you feel a little silly at first. Push through any initial awkwardness and let loose a bit! This is an exercise to help you build celebrations into your daily life and enjoy the benefits of full-body celebrations! If it feels uncomfortable, that’s a good sign you’re leaning into growth.
Gratitude, Celebration, and Sidelined Athlete Mental Health
Celebration is a form of GRATITUDE with powerful evidence-based benefits. Gratitude, or recalling joy and appreciation, is a proven practice and an especially powerful one to hone for sidelined athletes to shift out of depressive and self-limiting thoughts. It gets us back into joy and appreciation for the value we have and bring to those around us and creates momentum for more positive action and more success on our goals, big and small.
So celebrate with me - we just read an entire article! (**queue celebration dance/signal**)
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Neither Sidelined USA nor its affiliates provide clinical or medical care of any kind via their relationship with Sidelined. At no time should a user have an expectation of clinical care or professional services offered or rendered.
Q Williams
As Sidelined USA knows, the athlete transition can be a struggle! While I wasn’t sidelined by injury, giving up sports I’d been known for all my life was not an easy transition, and reminded me a lot of losing a loved one. I retired after learning about the complications of concussion in sport and decided it just wasn’t worth it to push to make an NFL team, especially after a successful college career at Northwestern. After retiring, I spent over 5 years fighting headaches, nausea, anxiety, and mood swings due to post-concussion syndrome. Plus I was fighting what many ex-athletes face, which are countless limiting beliefs holding many of us back from our passions and keep us from being of service. I struggled until I found EQ (emotional intelligence) and transformational mindset work, which continue to be my saving grace and exactly what I use to serve ex-athletes today. I’m honored to be supporting fellow sidelined athletes through Sidelined USA. We are all world-class!
Instagram: @QWilliams__
Email: info@Q-Williams.com