Sports psychology is really interesting. I’m told elite athletes like Derek Jeter can go a whole game and not have a single negative thought enter their head. In other words, he doesn’t doubt for a second that he can hit the ball no matter who the pitcher is and what the environment is like.
I’m a big believer in the power of positive thinking. One thing I noticed recently is that when I’m on the treadmill I almost never have a negative thought. Staring at myself in the mirror, with great music going on in my ears, and the endorphins flowing throughout my body, I feel like I can do and be anything.
For me, it’s the treadmill. Do you have an activity or place where you can go and be immersed in positive feeling?
You knew I had to chime in on this one…
For me it’s on an empty baseball field – at least an hour before anyone else arrives. I think strategy, refine my message to the team for that day and make final lineup decisions.
Every thought is positive and full of boundless potential. So-and-so WILL be perfect in the 2 hole today because I KNOW he can execute the hit&run just like we’ve worked it in practice.
I even think a lot about life in that setting…how lucky I am to be doing something I love so much…how on even the worst day I can come to the park and have all the bullshit dicipate.
Something about the “each day is a new day” element of baseball has completely seduced me – and the field is my sanctuary.
Once the game starts it’s a different story…
I work to get that positive energy when I race. It was important to stay positive during workouts as well as races so I could perform to the best of my ability. When I lost that focus and negative thoughts entered my mind it was obvious that I wasn’t going to do very well in that race. Racing in my opinion is 90% mental and the rest is just your own hard work.
I feel full of energy when I take a free hour and do nothing but wonder freely with my mind. Sometimes meditating at what I read, other times emptying my mind of any thought.
Cheers!