Cristiano Ronaldo and the cognitive restructuring

2 Jul 2024 - Sport

Many witnessed the Euro 2024 Portugal-Slovenia match and the penalty saved by Jan Oblak on Cristiano Ronaldo. You can love him or hate him but CR7 is one of the greatest athletes in history, not only in terms of technical-athletic qualities, but above all in terms of mental qualities.

In this article we talk about reframing, a cognitive restructuring technique that allows you to transform negative thought patterns into positive thought patterns and get back on the path to peak performance, just like Cristiano Ronaldo did when he kicked the first shot of the penalty shootout against Slovenia, perfectly angled.

Imagine being CR7 on the spot, important match for qualification, extra time, taking the kick but Oblak saves the shot. Hands clasped behind your head, gaze down and the only thing you would like to do is disappear to Mexico in some bar where no one knows you. But no. You have to keep playing.

How do I feel right now?

What thoughts do I have in mind?

Why am I feeling so bad?

Could I kick up or to the left?

More questions, more negative thoughts and therefore more negative emotions. More negative emotions, less calm, less confidence, less instinct, less fun, less focus. No Peak Performance.

If you are not aware of what is going through your mind at that moment, all your thoughts and emotions go into a loop that goes around and around and around. Your brain is in a washing machine of negative emotions. For this reason, during a game, one mistake can trigger a cycle of errors.

Reframing can help you break this loop and get back into focus.

Step number 1 is to answer the questions above and understand what emotions they arouse in you, so that you can recognize and deal with them. In the specific case of CR7 in this match he carried out an immediate reframing, the result of experience and constant mental training. We can build it over time by keeping track of our moods during training and competitions. Keeping track means taking a diary and writing:

When I feel stressed, negative and anxious

What am I thinking when I have a negative emotion

Why I feel this way

Step number 2 is to find alternative thoughts to what you wrote above and there are two ways. The first concerns a Situational Alternative, therefore finding different points of view that make you perceive reality in a constructive rather than negative way. The second concerns General Affirmations, therefore using internal dialogue, phrases or words that are positive for you that allow you to keep your self-esteem high.

Step number 3 is to be consistent with the first two steps and with your diary and you will see that over time your mindset will change significantly during a negative situation.

Reframing is a powerful technique for the athlete, but it needs constant and targeted training. CR7’s second penalty demonstrates his mental power. We can all achieve that confident, bold, almost arrogant attitude, but it takes a lot of dedication and perseverance.