Envision Success
- Hire an expert
- Research
- Sports-specific training
- Cross training
- ENVISION SUCCESS
“Envision Success” sounds like a great tip until you try to do it, then it becomes a little bit more difficult.
Preparing your mind for what you want, and what it will be like when you get it, is an important part of being successful. Elite athletes spend time visualizing their success before it happens. This can help calm them down before a competition, thinking about how good it will feel to accomplish their goals, rather than being nervous about not being able to achieve them.
1. PICTURE YOURSELF WINNING.
When athletes visualize a successful competition, they stimulate the same areas of the brain as when they physically perform that same action. Visualization in sports (or mental imagery) is a way to condition your brain for successful outcomes. Do you see yourself on the podium being awarded your gold medal or trophy? Do you see yourself passing up the other players? Maybe you just see yourself out there doing it, whatever “it” is!
2. USE A TRIGGER.
Whether it’s an index card with your goal or a check made out to yourself, write it down and take it with you everywhere, pull it out and look at it every day. Make it a concrete goal – “Play in the Masters” or “Get 1st Place in My Age Group” or “Sign a Contract for $10 million”.
3. CREATE A VISION BOARD.
Get a corkboard and start pinning things that help you want to succeed. It may include pictures of other athletes that inspire you, or motivational quotes, or possibly steps to achieve your goal. Theoretically, Pinterest is one big vision board which you can carry with you also, although it helps to have something physical in front of you.
4. REMEMBER REPEATEDLY THE POSITIVE MOMENTS.
While self reflection may be important to understanding and improving our weaknesses, try on a regular basis to remember the positive moments, the moments where you felt great. One way is to focus on successes you’ve already had.
Think about your greatest accomplishments, and how it felt to achieve them. This will help prevent you from dwelling on mistakes, as that is a sure way to repeat them. Have you ever noticed when you’re driving, if you look left then your car starts to turn left? Same goes for athletic success. Point your mind in the right direction.
NOTE: While these tips may sound like they are for upper level athletes only, they are not! Regardless of where you are at, you can achieve success using these same tips. For example, if your current long-term goal is to lose 30 pounds or complete your first Masters swim meet next year, you can use these tips for that as well.
Sources: Wikihow, Inc. Magazine, Peaksports
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