I like to write stuff down. I write down goals, dreams, ideas, and plans. Sometimes I write for the purposes of sharing or communicating, but quite often I write things never shared just to get them straight in my own head. These blog posts (along with the “drafts” never published) function as a diary of sorts, and they let me vent frustrations privately, think out plans, and tackle big challenges that scare the willies out of me, like how I’m going to approach that bar completely alone after worlds without crumbling or buckling, or what it is that I truly want to achieve as lifetime goals in powerlifting (it’s not just about the numbers).

In the spirit of clarification of my thoughts heading into this world championships (and to help me reframe the way I talk to myself during training, tough moments, and stressful situations), I started a phone note several months ago to focus my thoughts. Initially it had just four lines:

• You are allowed to pick openers that let you sleep at night.
• Live in the moment.
• Have fun. See friends. Meet people. Laugh.
• Learn more.

Vicky’s IPF Worlds 2016 Grounding Wire to Prevent Circuit Overload

• One lift at a time. Set it up, find your focus, keep it tight.
• Focus on what you have to do. Results will take care of themselves.
• This is your time. Implement the plan you’ve spent months and years building.
• Live in the moment, from warmup to the final dead.
• Follow your plan, but let yourself roll with what the day throws you.
• No needlessly risky openers. Be smart. Lay a strong foundation.
• Play the game in front of you.
• Third attempts are where the magic happens. Make good first and second calls to get you to that opportunity.
• You’ve earned the right to call for those weights, so approach the bar without hesitation.
• There is a wall around the platform that doubt cannot pass.
• Compete with joy, gratitude for your strengths, determination to fulfill your potential, and a really firm, well-chalked grip.
• Leave it all out there. Give what you have that day.
• Have fun! Laugh! Remember the Special Olympians’ joy.
• Happiness with whatever comes of it.
• Whatever the outcome, learn things to become a better lifter.
• Thank your spotters, respect the officials, appreciate the tremendous athletes and coaches with whom you have the privilege of lifting. Community.
• Whatever happens, celebrate completion, and then let it go.
• Rest. Recover. Review lessons learned. Look forward, dream bigger, and build again.
• There will always be another meet and an opportunity to improve.

I keep this as a note on my phone. It’ll be interesting to see what my thoughts are going into a competition five years from now. I continue to tweak this note as things change in my head, so this is just a snapshot in time.

Will my thoughts have changed in five years?

Inevitably. If I’ve hit the key points of it all, I won’t be the the same lifter in five years as I am now and who that person could be fascinates me.