The Art of Mental Training - A Guide to Performance Excellence

by D.C. Gonzalez

if there is any self-talk going on it must be positive, encouraging, and empowering.

the Warrior/Champion shuts down the Internal Critic because he understands that he must.”

Remember: Especially when things are at their worst, your self-talk must be positive, encouraging, and empowering. Shut down the Internal Critic.

Remember: You have to learn to control yourself before standing a chance of controlling your game. Getting your intensity revved up too powerfully prior to competition will actually hurt your performance.

Think about it. Without a dream, without a vision, how can you know where you hope to get? Without a dream one is only drifting.

Think about what you want to become, how you want things to be. For a little while, you need to do some Imagineering. Close your eyes and see yourself and everything around you the way you want it to be. Imagine it, feel it, see it clearly, see it vividly. Let your spirit soar.

Decide: What’s your dream? Figure it out. That’s your assignment.

Warrior/Champions set out to turn their dreams into reality by taking action through goal setting.

Mental athletes are goal-oriented. They have vision.

Goals serve to keep you on target. They increase the desire to achieve. Goals increase your self-confidence as you experience measurable improvement. With proper goal setting, the quality of practice sessions automatically improves. Goals enhance performance, and help create achievements.

Goals should be written down and reviewed frequently.

Goals should come in the forms of daily goals, monthly goals and annual goals, and remember that what you are striving for is progress rather than perfection.

must make sure to state your goals in a way that emphasizes what you want to happen, not what you want to avoid.

“Think deeply. Decide why accomplishing your goals is important. Create plans. Take action. Everything you need is inside of you, inside your very dreams. Goals represent your dreams along a timeline, showing you the steps needed to achieve your success. Remember that every journey is taken step by step. So start thinking. Be creative, take risks, try things, and most importantly, set your goals before you — Believe in your ability to accomplish them. If I were you, I would start right now.”

Remember: Setting goals is critical because they help you achieve. They represent your dreams along a timeline and help you to progress.