I don't think many gamers think of the “mental” side of gaming. So many people I see are so fixated on aim trainers or flashy plays, but I can tell even these pro players are having trouble controlling their nerves; it's very obvious to me. I always had tier 1 mechanics/aim/game sense, but my mental game was at tier 3-4 level. When I became nervous, my aim/game sense/mechanics would go from tier 1 to tier 3 every time. Reaching your full potential may have nothing to do with in-game factors, which is all I focused on the last seven years of my career. The mental blocks were my handicap. Most of these organizations don't even help their players with the mental side of the game. Which, in my opinion, is one of the most important aspects of a winning team. It's even harder to control your nerves in esports because you have the same pressure as other athletes but don't nearly make enough money to retire. Every single game, you have the pressure of losing your job if you don't perform; there is no safety net. Every game, your future is on the line. Also, gamers tend to be isolated creatures which causes even more anxiety. The point of this is just to spread awareness of the mental side because if you spend your days grinding a game indoors, by yourself all day, without any thought of how it can negatively affect your performance in-game, you may run into some issues when you finally "make it." Think about your lifestyle, diet, thoughts, self-esteem, and confidence, and begin to work on these too. It's not all about spending 10 hours a day grinding ranked or DMS. Stay safe, gamers 🫡