Why ‘Calm Down’ Doesn’t Work—And What Actually Works
Most athletes have heard it: “Calm down, just relax, you’ll do better.”
Here’s the truth: it doesn’t work.
Because performance under pressure isn’t a mindset problem—it’s a stress response problem.
Your nervous system controls:
• Heart rate
• Muscle tension
• Coordination
• Reaction speed
• Emotional control
• Recovery
When stress spikes, your body executes exactly how it’s trained. Trying to “think” your way out of it is like trying to stop a freight train with your hands.
That’s where IDUR comes in:
Identify – Notice your stress state early: breath changes, tension, vision narrows.
Deconstruct – Use performance breathing to downshift and reset physiology.
Understand – Study your triggers and patterns. Chaos becomes predictable.
Respond – Execute correctly while activated, not just “calm.”
Pro Tip: Between reps, plays, or sets, use your breath as a reset lever. Every controlled breath is a nervous system rep.
Ask yourself today:
  • Where does your nervous system break under pressure?
  • Which phase of IDUR do you need to practice more?
Drop a comment with your answers. Let’s train the system that controls performance, not just the skill.
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2 comments
Shaye Patel
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Why ‘Calm Down’ Doesn’t Work—And What Actually Works
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