Here are some simple ways to start building a strong, positive mindset. Negativity is a habit. It will take practice to make a new habit to replace it. •Look for the Positives-be present and notice the good things around you. They are always there. •Be realistic about expectations-this helps us avoid unnecessary disappointment. Perfect is not a realistic expectation. It is fine to strive for perfection, but if we are expecting ourselves to never make an error, we will be disa

Clearing your mind is something you can learn to do and the more you practice, the better you get. Start with just six minutes a day. Picture a clear field of view. Try an open window with an empty, blue sky. When a thought comes into mind or into view, acknowledge it and let it float past. Do this for two minutes when you wake up, in the middle of your day and at bedtime. You are going to have distractions. You don't want to follow them wherever they lead. Acknowledge that y

Practice getting to your zone and make it a natural part of your game or use it whenever you are feeling stressed, or need more confidence. #improvedsportsperformance #controllingemotions #focus #psychology #preshotroutine #concentration #clearmind #golf #relaxation #control #behaviorcontrol #performanceenhancement #sports #zone #confidence #refocus #positivethinking

A meditative session to create a mental zone or happy place where your best sports performance can flow freely. Part one of two to create your zone, practice getting there and make it part of your mental golf bag. #improvedsportsperformance #psychology #focus #concentration #clearmind #golf #preshotroutine #behaviorcontrol #performanceenhancement #sports #zone #confidence #refocus #positivethinking

Staying positive when negative players are around can be a full time job. Protect you positivity and play your best game. This is the forth and final part in the series. #improvedsportsperformance #psychology #focus #controllingemotions #clearmind #concentration #golf #performanceenhancement #sports #positivethinking #sportspsychology

Focus on What You Can Control Do you worry about your competition, the weather or course conditions? This is a waste of energy and focus. You can't do anything about these things. There's only one thing that you can control, yourself. Focus on your confidence, physiology, positivity and behavior. In essence, it is all about you. Fretting over outcomes will also take your focus away from what you can control. If you take care of the process, the outcome will take care of itsel

The control of your mental game all starts with your physiology. Your thought and emotions are derived from the streams of info coming from your bodily systems. Here is the first step in learning to control your physiology. Use it to keep your emotions or thoughts from getting the best of your game. #controllingemotions #psychology #focus #preshotroutine #clearmind #concentration #golf #relaxation #control #behaviorcontrol #performanceenhancement #sports #zone #confidence #re

The mistake wastebasket. After a disappointing shot, you need to move on. You can analyze later but not during play. Here is another strategy to try on for size. Pick an inanimate object on the course to serve as a "wastebasket" where you will toss all of your errors. Choose a spot just off the fairway and behind you or another player's cart. Whenever you mess up, wad up an imaginary piece of paper. Focus on the mashing of this paper as you take 2-3 rhythmic, measured breaths

Here is another restart strategy to try. Find one that works well for you and use it. If you watch your favorite golfer on television, you may see them use their strategy. Take 5 big confident, springy steps toward your next shot to erase it. Focus on your physiology (posture, stride, core and breathing.) Count the steps (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) and gradually let the shot go. Or use a verbal cue to help you move on. My Next Shot Is My Best Shot Every Thing’s Gonna Be All Right #sports

Practice getting to your zone After spending some time in your zone, which now has a name and is familiar to you, add minor annoyance or distraction and return to happy place. Imagine a fly buzzing past (a minor annoyance) and then return to your happy place. Practice, add slightly greater annoyance and return to happy place. As a trigger to return to your happy place you can use the name of the place, or a song or phase that connects you to that place. You can also use a phy

Identify a place where you feel all of the great feelings that you identified- Focused, Confident, Relaxed, Capable, Motivated, Strong, Talented. Spend some time on this. Where are you when you feel all of these things? It can be a place from your childhood, a vacation spot, you can make up a place. There should be no negative things that compete with the positive feelings in this place. Relax and spend some mental time in this place. What things do you See around you? Take y

It is a Happy Place where your best performance flows from you with ease. There is no thinking or trying, it just flows. If you have experienced this, it likely happened in an emotionally charged competitive situation. Wouldn’t it be great if you could go there whenever you needed or wanted? Well, you can create your own happy place and practice getting there. This will help you focus and give you more control. Here is the first step. Relax, close your eyes and imagine a plac