MESSAGE #1253 IS THIS WHAT YOU DO?

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Think about the last time you were under pressure.

Perhaps it was during an athletic competition.

Perhaps it was with a deadline at work.

Perhaps it was speaking in front of your class in school.

Physically, how did you react?

If you are like most people, your body tensed up.

How did you perform?

If you are like most people, you didn’t perform at your best.

Now think about the last time you performed effortlessly.

Physically how did you react?

Your body was probably pretty loose.

How did you perform?

Quite well, I’m sure.

A large part of peak performance is staying loose. Focused, but loose.

How do you do it?

Here’s one way:

Think of something funny before you perform.

It could be a joke, a comedy clip or video, maybe even reading from a joke book you carry around with you. And when things get tough, think of that funny thing.

Here’s an exercise: The next time you see a “big game” on television, watch how some of the players react with smiles and laughter.

Then watch what kind of results they get.

MESSAGE #1252 THIS IS COURAGE

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Courage is not the absence of fear-it’s inspiring others to move beyond it.
-NELSON MANDELA

Fear is part of sports…and life. Let me share with you a secret:

Winners and losers feel the same feelings.

The difference is in the action they take.

Before the Super Bowl, the US Open, and World Series, the athletes are nervous. Some players even get sick in the locker room before the game.

But once the competition begins, they don’t ACT nervous. They move beyond their feelings.

That’s courage.

That’s mental toughness.

And you can do the same.

MESSAGE #1245

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“The first and best victory is to conquer self.”
-PLATO

Recently, I worked with a young girl and she hated serving. She avoided it. Every time she practiced her serve, she would inevitably expect the worst.

I told her I was optimistic about her serve and that she should be as well. “You get what you focus on,” I told her.

Instead of focusing on how much she hated serving, I just told her to think about her technique and adjustments.

She stuck with it and started getting her serves in. And guess what?

She started smiling.

Had she given up or avoided serving, her serves would still be the same.

She conquered herself and began getting the results she wanted.

My student came up to me after class and said, “Thank you, coach. Today I learned a very important lesson.”

Conquer yourself and the sky is the limit.

MESSAGE #1242 FOCUS

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We choose what we focus on.

Suppose you are winning a tennis match by a score of 5-0, and your opponent then wins the next three games. You start to think that the momentum has switched and that the person on the other side of the net has a chance to win.

STOP!

This type of thinking is normal, however, many people end up losing that set by focusing on the possible loss instead of focusing on HOW they can close it out.

The key is acknowledging that negative little voice inside your head and then moving on. Focusing on the next point. Your strategy. Your footwork.

Is this easier said than done?

Yes and no. Simple…yes. Easy…no. Mental training is just like physical training. You have to work at it.

Here’s an example of how you can shift your focus at any time.

Look around you and find three things that are blue.

Now quickly close your eyes and find something green.

Isn’t it hard to do?

Why?

Because it’s hard to focus on two things at the same time.

You can’t get green when focusing on blue.

You can’t get a win from focusing on a loss.

MESSAGE #1240 WINNING MINDSET

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Practice like you are the worst player.

Compete like you are the best player.

Work hard in practice.

Stay loose in competition.

MESSAGE #1239 MENTAL TOUGHNESS FROM A MONK

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Here is a great short story by an unknown monk from 11 A.D. entitled “I Wanted To Change The World”

When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.

I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.

When I found I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn’t change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.

Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.”

Many athletes worry about things that they cannot control, for instance, winning and losing, the weather, their opponents, the umpires, etc.

If you can’t control it, don’t worry about it.

Control the only thing you can…

Yourself.

Your actions.

Your reactions.

MESSAGE #1238 A MESSAGE FROM JOHN LENNON

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When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy.’ They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.
-JOHN LENNON

People don’t sing to get to the end of the song.

Athletes don’t play to get to the end of the competition.

You shouldn’t “live for” the weekends or your vacations.

Enjoy the process of singing, playing your sport or everyday life, in general.

The more you savor each and every thing you do, the happier you will be…and the better results you will get.

MESSAGE #1236 I REALLY LIKE THIS QUOTE…

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“Winning means you’re willing to go longer, work harder, and give more than anyone else.”
– VINCE LOMBARDI

I really like this quote from the great Vince Lombardi.

And does it really stop at sports?

Of course not.

If you have a job (or even a job interview), the best thing you can do is go longer, work harder and give more than anyone else.

Do you have to be gifted to do this?

Of course not.

MESSAGE #1232 MY SHE-RO

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I just got off the phone with one of my she-ros, Rayna DuBose.

Rayna was a top basketball recruit and received a full scholarship to Virginia Tech. After her first season, she contracted a type of meningitis and within 24 hours, she had all four limbs amputated. Now she is a motivational speaker.

She said that was the best thing that ever happened to her.

Why?

Because now she is helping other people.

A pretty bold statement from someone who, wakes up and first thing in the morning, puts on her arms and legs (prosthetics).

We cannot control our situations but we can control our attitudes towards them.

Be like Rayna.