Watching Schumacher’s documentary yesterday I realized how athletes at the top of their sports generally have the mindset of competing with one’s self more than competing with others. Schumacher talks about how he becomes one with the car and how important it is to know how much you can push your car. If you push it above its limits the car is not happy and if you are running considerably lower than the car’s limit you are not happy. Its important for both of you to be happy.
I feel this is as important for a race driver as for anyone passionate about their chosen medium. Although it might seem important to do better than someone else racing alongside you its more important that you are in tune with what you have at hand and are pushing it to the best in its abilities. You have to completely block out others to the point that they are trivial and prioritize the highest focus from your mind’s resources for your medium and the task at hand. Constantly recognizing the potentials and limitations of your medium and making the most out of it.
Its easy to say that a better car wins the race and to constantly want a better car and hide behind the fact that you don’t have one It is much more important to come to terms with your own understanding of your limitations and max it out till you can’t do better with it. This is a learning that I wish to keep with me for long.
Maybe its important for you and me to ask. What is my medium of choice? What are its constraints at the moment? What am I trying to achieve with it? And how should I go about it knowing all of the above?