Athlete Identity and Change

Our athlete identity is often a strong part of ourselves and it can be hard to grapple with who we are when sport is no longer central to our lives. It can take time, but we can find new ways to be and new ways to identify. Sport can still be a part of that, but it doesn't have to be everything forever.

 We all evolve and change.

 A lot of us have a hard time letting go of identities and the beliefs we have about ourselves. We tend to think that if we identify in a specific way or do a specific thing – we are “an athlete”, “a runner,” “a skier,” “ the goofy one,” “the life of the party” - we need to commit to that forever.

We tend to associative changing our minds or changing our paths with giving up or betraying ourselves. This can be especially true for athletes and sports people, who often place performance at a high level and have often invested a lot to be where they are.

 Life can move in a way that means we no longer can do our sport at the same level. This can feel very painful and unsettling if sports and athletic ability has made up a big part of who we are. There can be a lot of grief that can come with letting go of past versions of ourselves, but it's also an opportunity for so much growth and discovery.

The pain often comes when we cling hard to an identity that we know and feels comfortable to us, but that may no longer fit where we are in life and in the world.

It’s ok to release past versions of ourselves and discover new ways of being.

The identity that used to be our everything can become a part of the complex puzzle that makes each of us who we are.