Why Translating the Existential BIG-5 Helps Emerging Athletes make sense of THEIR World

Endings

The emerging athlete transition is made up of phases and events (e.g. selection, injuries), cycles of beginnings, ENDINGS and new beginnings.

Understanding and accepting the realities of this career CHOICE, allows you to make knowledgeable decisions. Successfully navigating these cycles builds RESILIENCY

Meaning

The WHAT and the WHY of what YOU are chasing in sport and life.

What gives your life meaning typically falls into 4 categories :

  • To be of significance

  • To do something of significance

  • To have something of significance

  • To be connect with something beyond oneself.

Identity is a FLUID construct

Your identity is multi-layered and dynamic set of roles and unique identifies: For example your: family role, friend, age, gender, country, club, ethnicity, religious position, hobbies, work, school ...

Athletes wear masks to compete and perform. This is not who you are - this is what you do!

Using an existential approach encourages:

  • You to explore the different roles and the MEANING they have for you.

  • You to recognise when you are being AUTHENTIC (true to yourself) and when you are not.

Existential Freedom: Choice and Responsibility

While not everything we experience is inside our CONTROL, we are always FREE to CHOOSE how we respond, act, and the path we take with the resources we have.

THE BIG BUT:

In being free to choose, we must also accept RESPONSIBILITY for the outcomes of the choices and decisions we make.

Isolation: Human Beings are Not Wired to be ALONE

Understanding the importance of emerging athlete RELATIONSHIPS from an existential perspective means:

  • constant cycles of review and performance critique (being seen through the eyes of others)

  • recognising conflicts, connection and cohesion in teams and organisations.

  • developing self-awareness and your relationship with yourself

  • determining your different support needs

Note on the Research

PhD thesis: Emerging Athlete’s Transition in Professional Sport: An Existential Multi-Case Perspective, Dr P.G. Thomas, 2024, available in https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/.