How Champions Think Ch 9

Nerves are a natural part of high-pressure situations, like sports or public speaking. They're not something to be cured but managed.

Nerves can be used positively as a signal or motivator to prepare. Athletes often use fear as a cue to focus.

Physical symptoms like trembling, sweating, a fast heart rate, are natural responses to stress and are beyond your conscious control.

Nerves are connected to significant experiences like a first kiss or a competition. Often, such experiences are made more memorable by nerves.

Focus on using nerves as a signal; don't try to eliminate them. Athletes and performers often use pre-event anxieties as a trigger for preparation.

The process used by champions during competition or performance to achieve success.

The practice routine athletes and performers follow before competition.

Using nerves as a signal to perform better, rather than seeing them as a detriment.

The golfer's performance process, a mental and physical routine performed before each shot.

A psychological barrier caused by nerves that prevents athletes or performers from achieving their potential.

A process that involves visualizing the target, trusting body, and swinging instinctively, without conscious thought.

Skills without practice or development, making performance unreliable.

Skills honed through practice and developed, enabling consistent performance, despite nerves.

The part of the brain that handles instinct, reactions, and habits during an activity. It executes without conscious thought, so keep it in charge.

The part responsible for deliberate thought and analysis. Actively engage it only as needed (e.g., route planning) during performance.

A pre-shot routine or process is very important. A consistent process keeps the subconscious in control.

Relieving yourself of worrying about outcomes, trusting your capabilities and relying on instinct is key to peak performance.

The tendency to overthink and consciously control actions during performance, often detrimental to success.

The state of achieving peak performance by allowing the subconscious mind to take over, without deliberate conscious thought.

Daydreaming during performance, particularly in activities like golf, can allow for subconscious control and lead to improved results.

The importance of focusing on the execution of the process, rather than obsessing over the outcome, for optimal performance.

Nervousness in high-pressure situations can cause overthinking, leading to conscious control and hindering performance.

The initial, subconscious response to a situation, often shaped through repeated practice and experience.

Conscious thinking involves deliberate analysis and planning, while subconscious thinking relies on intuition and learned patterns.

When conscious thinking takes over during an activity, it can hinder performance by creating doubt and interfering with learned skills.

Developing consistent and effective behavior patterns in a performance setting requires repetition and conscious effort over time.

Replacing an ineffective habit with a new, desired one requires conscious effort and a focus on the desired action.

Routines provide structure and consistency, aiding in focus and decision-making, especially under pressure.

Hesitation and uncertainty when putting, often resulting from conflicting visual cues, can negatively impact performance.

Using visual aids like a line or string can help golfers focus on their target, build confidence, and reinforce desired putting trajectory.

While aiming for precision is important, striving for perfect execution on every practice shot can be detrimental to overall performance.

Dedicate time for focused, intentional practice using a full routine, rather than simply hitting multiple balls without conscious attention to technique.

A desired state in sports where a player's subconscious controls their movements, allowing for more natural and effortless performance.

Overcoming mental barriers that hinder an athlete from reaching their full potential. Often involves reducing pressure and self-doubt.

A mental approach in sports where athletes focus on relaxation and natural flow rather than forcing the action.

A mental state of complete focus and effortless performance, where distractions are blocked out and actions become automatic.

A mental technique used by some athletes to reduce stress and improve performance, where they imagine themselves in a relaxing or enjoyable situation.

A mental refuge athletes create for themselves, often a calming or enjoyable setting, to escape from the pressures of competition.

A mental strategy where athletes shift their focus from self-pressure to a broader purpose or higher cause, reducing undue stress.

Methods used by athletes to shift mental focus away from pressure and anxiety, such as focusing on breathing, counting objects, or remembering a positive event.

A technique used by athletes to regulate their emotions and reduce anxiety by focusing on their breath, bringing awareness to the present moment.