With Winning in Mind

by Lanny Bassham

Winners are convinced they will finish first. The others hope to finish first.

Scoring is a function of great execution, and winning is the result, but thinking about winning can pull your focus off of proper execution in a competition. Thinking about process is the answer.

Over-trying has caused more good competitors to lose competitions than any other form of mental error.

By the way, thinking about losing while competing works every time.

Your performance and your Self-Image are always equal.

This person has the skills to become a success, but as yet does not believe enough in himself. To perform well, this person must improve his Self-Image circle. Unfortunately, many people in this situation do not recognize that they must work on their Self-Image. They work instead on their Subconscious skill, becoming even more out of balance.

What you say is not important. What you cause yourself or others to picture is crucial.

Skill is defined as doing something consciously long enough for the process to become automated by the Subconscious Mind.

Conscious override is a major problem for athletes on Olympic day. Instead of trusting the Subconscious Mind to perform, athletes try extra hard to do well. Conscious override is the result. You tighten up. You slow down. Off your rhythm, your performance drops. You must allow the Subconscious to do the work. Trust in your ability. Let it flow.

Self-Image and performance are always equal. To change your performance, you must first change your Self-Image.

Every time you think about an error, you move to make it like you to create it.

My advice is to only set goals on things that YOU can control. Keep your focus on you, not your competitors.