Our conscious experience has two components: attention and awareness. Attention works like a spotlight—it zooms in on specific details, letting us focus deeply on a task. Awareness, on the other hand, is like a wide field, encompassing everything happening around us, providing the broader context.
For athletes, balancing these two is essential. The “field of awareness” helps monitor surroundings, anticipate opponents, and maintain tactical perspective. Meanwhile, the “spotlight of attention” isolates and enhances specific actions, like taking a perfect shot or maintaining a steady pace.
When attention and awareness interact harmoniously, they create a mental state where every movement and decision aligns seamlessly with the situation.
👉 Learn more about these mental pillars and how they drive peak performance in the full article.
