Athletes know about mental rehearsal, visualization, confidence and self-talk. They know these are powerful strength-building tools for winning and reaching their personal best or excellence.
Athletes know they have to believe it to become it. They have learned how to deal with stress because they have played their game physically, mentally, and spiritually. And they understand the importance of the mental
practice; it is not enough to physically play well. The mind must actively work just as hard as the body.
Athletes have the will to win; they have faced their fears and created level of self-confidence so they can go out and challenge their opponents head-on. Athletes say over and over what they need to hear in order to be a confident, positive person. While they may have some anxiety before a
game, they can “talk” themselves into believing a successful outcome. They know what to do; it has become second nature to them.
We can learn from these techniques; that is why I studied Applied Sports Psychology. I wanted to know why athletes could perform under stress, why they could win a race or game in spite of obstacles. We can learn from their will to win, their desire to succeed in spite of odds, and the push toward personal excellence. We need to encourage our children to use these valuable techniques and be the winners they are called to be.