Western psychology aims to ‘manage’ the emotions that arise during competition. If we look into this process of ‘managing’, you may see that this results in either suppressing or escaping from those feelings that make us so uncomfortable.
Obviously there is a tremendous feeling of accomplishment or victory if these feelings disappear, albeit briefly. Nobody wants to stay in discomfort and so there is a natural instinct to want to move away as soon as possible.
A more ‘wholistic’ approach would be to welcome all feelings with a view to understanding ourselves better. Many people seem to mistake a wholistic approach for a positive approach. Positive is only one side of the spectrum and as such incomplete.
Embrace all that arises in you and if there is no judgment within you, you will be better able to explore and therefore learn about yourself.
It is this awareness that can be transforming!
happy hitting!