Dichotomy of Control
Imagine you’re watching a baseball game. The ball is hit to the third baseman. He throws the ball to first base to try to get the batter out. When he does he throws it over the first baseman’s head and the runner is safe! Would you blame the first baseman for the batter being safe? No, because there was no way he could’ve caught the ball. It was too high.
Imagine later in the game the ball is hit to the third baseman. He throws it perfectly to the first baseman. The first baseman drops the ball and the batter is safe. Would you blame the third baseman? No, because the first baseman dropped the ball.
The first baseman is not in control of the ball being thrown to him or over his head. The third baseman is not in control of the first baseman catching a good throw or not. Right now you’re saying to yourself, “Josh, I’m not a stupid idiot stop insulting my intelligence.” I’m not that stupid either but for some reason we often fail to remember this applies to situations in our own lives.
Both the first and third baseman want their team to win the game but they can only do so much. There are other teammates that have to do their part too. It’s the same for us. In order for us to achieve something things outside of our control have to line up with our efforts.
This is an idea that Epictetus talks about in chapter one of his book The Enchiridian. He said that there are some things that are under our control and other things that are not. The more we place our happiness in or judge our success by things that are outside of our control the more sadness and failure we will encounter. He therefore suggests to only become invested in things we can control and leave things outside of our control up to fate. That doesn’t mean we don’t try to get a result in a race. It means that we shouldn’t be focused on the result, only the things in our control that are necessary to achieve the result.
Many people throughout history have subscribed to this idea. I think it can actually lead to more external success, is a great way to manage pre event anxiety, and is a useful way to evaluate an event/race in order to do better next time.
Make a list
Not under my control
if others show up who are stronger
competitors’ pre race tactics
competitors’ decisions in the moment
Under my control
my effort
my pre race tactics
my decisions in the moment
There is always a result we would prefer. Maybe it’s a top 5 finish. The goal should be to do everything in our power to achieve it. If we end up not getting a top 5 finish we should make sure it was because of something in the “not under my control” side of the list. If we lost because of something we didn’t accomplish on the “under my control” side of the list then that’s a bummer.
If we gave up because we thought there was no hope, that’s wacky nu nu. If we gave it our all and got beat by someone stronger, excellent. You win some, you lose some.
If we had a great pre race plan to attack at a certain point later in the race but we lacked patience and attacked early and it didn’t work out? No bueno. If it didn’t work out because someone else anticipated our attack and put their team on the front to neutralize it then that’s a great chess move by them.
We can’t control if our competitor attacks before we planned to but we can decide to go with them or not. If we don’t go with them we can decide to put our team on the front to pull them back.
These are just a few examples of potentially many. If we’re going to get beat, who do we want to get beat by? Our competitor or ourself? I’m a big fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation. This could be a place to sneak in a quote from Captain Jean-Luc Picard.
“It's possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness; that is life.”
On Race Day
Focusing on things outside of our control can cause us to defeat ourselves. Has this ever happened to you? You’re on the start line and see a wicked fast competitor and instantly believe you’re racing for second place? Before the race even starts we can deflate ourselves. When we notice that thought we should think of what its counterpart would be on the “under my control” side of the list. Don’t let anything get in the way of accomplishing what is in your control: giving your best effort. If they are going to beat you they are going to have to beat your best effort.
Things we cannot control are often in the past or the future. When we are not present we make mistakes in the now. If we start to worry about what other people’s tactics will be we stop thinking about what we should be doing right now. Have you ever been in the wrong position unable to respond when the winning breakaway went up the road?
When we make a “not under my control” list we can identify wasted thought much easier and quicker. When we identify it we should send our thoughts to its counterpoint on the “under my control” side of the list.
Post Race
If you achieved your preferred result, congratulations. If you did not figure out why.
Was it because of something outside of your control? You win some you lose some.
Was it because of something under your control? Forgive yourself and try not to let that same mistake happen again.
