E68: Orrin Coley - Tying self-worth to performance, head games and growing up
Oct 18, 2023
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Orrin Coley, a strong climber based in Leicester, talks about tying self-worth to performance and growing up. He shares his struggles and open discussions about flaws. Other topics include the emotional side of climbing, reminiscing about a climbing trip, and creating a kinder competition landscape.
The podcast explores the emotional side of climbing and the guest's struggle with tying self-worth to performance.
The importance of open dialogue about the emotional aspects of climbing is emphasized.
The guest finds motivation and joy in pushing personal limits and tackling difficult climbs.
External pressures, such as sponsor expectations and social media, can impact climbing performance and finding a healthy mindset is crucial.
Deep dives
The struggle with tying self-worth to climbing
The podcast episode explores the guest's personal struggle with tying his self-worth too closely to climbing. He discusses the emotional side of climbing and how it affected him over the years.
The importance of discussing the psychology of climbing
The episode delves into the psychology of climbing, including the positive and negative aspects. The guest emphasizes the importance of open dialogue and conversations about the emotional side of climbing.
The joy of striving for personal limits
The guest expresses his passion for pushing himself and striving to reach his personal limits in climbing. He shares his motivation for pursuing difficult climbs and the satisfaction and joy he finds in challenging himself.
The impact of external pressures on climbing performance
The episode touches on the impact of external pressures, such as sponsor expectations and social media, on climbing performance. The guest shares his own experiences with feeling the pressure to succeed and discusses the importance of finding a healthy mindset in climbing.
Importance of Managing Expectations in Competitions
Managing expectations in competitions is crucial. The speaker shares their personal experience of initially expecting certain results but realizing that others also train and improve. They highlight the need to acknowledge the skill level of competitors and to set realistic goals.
Memorable Competition Moment: British Championships
The speaker recounts a memorable moment in the British Championships where they podiumed and came third. Despite not winning, they reflect on the satisfaction of giving their best, feeling proud of their performance, and leaving with no regrets. This experience also served as a personal triumph over previous disappointments with the British team.
Finding New Identity and Pursuits Outside of Climbing
After retiring from competitive climbing, the speaker grapples with questions of identity and purpose. They discuss the process of discovering new interests and pursuing a career beyond climbing. They share their journey of finding fulfillment in helping others experience the joy of climbing and exploring new aspects of life outside of the sport.
Orrin dropped in to join us this week. We know Orrin pretty well, he's a strong climber based in Leicester, which is not exactly the hub of UK climbing, but Orrin has definitely made the most of it! He's climbed up to 8C on the boulders and he's competed for Great Britain at world cups so he's had a great deal of success in the sport. That said he's been really open and honest with this struggles when things aren't all going his way. He has the ability to really confront his flaws and talk openly about them, which I think is very rare and I hope what he says resonates with some of you.
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