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

When we are in the zone, there are no distractions. Well, not quite. There are all of the usual distractions. It is just that we do not notice them. This is the ideal. The next best thing is to notice them and just let them float by. Pay no attention to them and do not respond to them. The other alternatives are to turn our attention to them and respond emotionally. This is when we are no longer focused on our game. Learn to let distractions go by noticing when they arise or

This is a small change that will make a big difference. Use it everywhere. Replace the words 'don't forget' with the word 'remember'. When you say don't forget, your brain hears two negatives. The focus is negative and it is on forgetting. Usually this actually makes us forget. Have you ever told your child "Don't forget your lunch." and then they forget it. Try using 'remember' instead. Here are some examples of how to use this on the course. Change "Don't chunk it in that t

The next goal is to make the pre-shot routine (PSR) a fluid, regular, connected, series of acts that become one. Like putting on your shoes or brushing your teeth. It should flow and be consistent each time and take little conscious control. **The exception here is if you are distracted very easily or get distracted during your PSR. Then go back to basics as you likely do if other aspects of your game go awry. Go back to doing each step while consciously thinking about it.**

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

Keep those negative thoughts out to maintain your #confidence and #focus. #controllingemotions #focus #golf #concentration #psychology #performanceenhancement #sports #confidence #positivethinking #sportspsychology

If you have ever been stuck in a cart with someone who complains on every hole, you know that it affects your attitude and your performance. Here are some #strategies to defend your #positive #attitude. #psychology #concentration #golf #behaviorcontrol #performanceenhancement #sports #confidence #positivethinking #sportspsychology

Try this activity. The video is on youtube. Start training your brain to notice distractions sooner and let them pass without pulling you out of your game. These 2 breathing activities will pay dividends and only take a few minutes a day to practice. Will you devote the time? #controllingemotions #psychology #focus #concentration #golf #relaxation #behaviorcontrol #control #performanceenhancement #sports #confidence #positivethinking #sportspsychology

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

Increased heart rate, rapid breathing, elevated blood pressure, are you Nervous? Exited? Anxious? In love? This is the cool part, you get to decide. The emotions are interpretations of physiological input from all of your bodily systems. These 4 interpretations stem from much the same physiological input. So why not choose how you are feeling. When you have an important match or meeting coming up, choose to feel excited about it instead of nervous or anxious. The physical fee

#psychology #focus #concentration #golf #relaxation #control #behaviorcontrol #performanceenhancement #sports #confidence #mentalgame #positivethinking #sportspsychology

If you want to make positive changes in your life or your mental game, start by being nice- To yourself. Cut yourself some slack. Talk to yourself the way you would talk to a friend. The thing that you want to change was there for a reason. It served a purpose at some time. This frees up mental energy for you to move forward and start making the changes that you would like to make. We used to think that our personality was set in stone. We now know that we have the power to c

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

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