Young Athletes (and Parents): Here’s the Only Thing You Need to Know To Master the “Mental Game”

The following is a rewrite of an article I wrote for an upcoming golf publication. I was asked by the editor for my quick take on the above subject line. Most of you have heard me talk about this before, but a brief reminder never hurt anyone. Including me.

Garret

 —

In spite of the glut of strategies, tools, techniques, and theories that exist today, there’s only one true path to understanding and then mastering the mental game in sports. And to all the young athletes and their parents out there, I promise, it’s not what you’re thinking. To handle the inevitable ups and downs of sports, and life, what you need to know is that a circumstance (a win, loss, teammate, coach, the past or future) cannot cause you to feel a certain way. Your feelings are solely connected to your thinking. When your head is clear, you’ll feel good. When you’re head cluttered, you’ll feel bad. Anything on the outside is actually neutral.

Never heard that before? Well, it’s normal for it to appear that a circumstance has the power to make you feel anxious, frustrated, or even happy. But your mind, like the minds of all human beings, doesn’t work from out to in—it works from in to out. That’s why, if you’re a golfer, sometimes you’ll feel insecure when looking at the out-of-bounds stakes that line the left side of the 18th fairway, and sometimes you won’t. The out-of-bounds stakes aren’t driving you feelings; your thinking (level of clarity or clutter in the moment) is what’s doing this.

Finally, let me also remind you: Knowing that your thinking, not your circumstances, creates your feelings doesn’t mean that you’re capable of managing or controlling your thoughts. No one is that powerful. Yet it will stop you from searching outside for causes and cures (overthinking) when bad feelings strike. And not searching outside allows what I call your “psychological immune system” to activate—as clarity of mind sets in and calm, confident, and determined feelings arise without effort.

When that starts to happen on a consistent basis, you have mastered the so-called mental game. I wish you good luck!