Your competitive success weighs heavily on the power of your mind. How well you stay motivated, focussed on your goal, and capable of calming your own feelings of anxiety as show time hits.
Strong strategies for all of these come from the realm of sport psychology.
“If you think it…it shall be true!!!” Your brain does not know any different then what you tell it. If your brain is telling your body that it cannot do something then the body will feel it cannot do it.
Some examples of thinking that can hinder performance:
- All or nothing thinking
- Self critical thinking
- Black and White thinking
- Complaining and whining- actually surrounds yourself with negative energy to attract more negative energy. This will also attract more negative people that will steal your energy and leave you with none.
- Perfectionistic thinking- impairs motivation and focus.
- Using words like “I can’t” or “if only”.
Take your power back—change your vocabulary. Your brain will change too and so will your performance. Use words like “I can and I will”.
Practice Thought Stopping- any time you use negative phrases/ words or invest in negative energy—imagine a giant stop sign in your head. Replace the phrases and words. State a positive. Overtime you will start to only think this way.
Some people sabotage themselves with negativity. WHAT YOU FOCUS ON EXPANDS. IF YOU WANT MORE NEGATIVITY IN YOUR LIFE THEN ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS THINK ABOUT IT.
Many people do not attempt things they would like to do out of fear of failure. Remember one important thing about failure is that you cannot have success without failure. You will succeed if you try and try and try again.
Motivation:
The best motivation is motivation from within- Intrinsic. Ie: being motivated to train and eat healthy because you love the way you feel when you do. Instrinsic motivation is the best way to change habits permanently. If it comes from you and not from outside pressure or from and offering of money then long term success is virtually guaranteed.
How to sustain motivation:
- Use affirmations and change your thinking- index cards
- Positive self talk
- Surround yourself with like minded positive people
- Read empowering books and listen to motivating music.
- Set Goals to work towards using the 7 step method- see next weeks post.
- Keep a success journal and a training journal.
- Make yourself accountable
- Allow time for rest, meditation and reflection
The SECRET to reaching any fitness goal
If you feel ready for action and are highly motivated to achieve a goal but continually struggle then the true secret it practice positive thought and have a solid plan that includes a schedule of when and how you will get there.
This translates into all goals of life. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A MAP THEN YOU WILL FOREVER BE LOST IN THE TREES. A BIG PICTURE PLAN WILL GET YOUR THERE. IE: FITNESS FORCAST
Yours in health,
Tammy Strome
