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Talk to yourself.
Stay focused. Relax. Great advice. But how do you do that? One way is self-talk.
Your mind, emotions, and your muscles/all work together. If you tell yourself you’ll fail,/your performance will suffer. Champions use positive self-talk/to stay focused under pressure.
Develop positive cue words/to encourage yourself. Use these words/whenever you are feeling mad, sad, or scared. Here are examples/of negative and positive self-talk:
It’s just too tough! / I love new challenges!
We’ re down 20 to nothing ! / It’s not over till it’s over.
I’ve never done this before! / Here’s a chance/to learn something new.
Whatever your game is,/switch off the negative/and turn on the positive. If you’re a basketball player/shooting a free-throw,/tell yourself:/“That basket is as big as Lake Biwa! I can’t miss!” If you’re a golfer/trying to make a putt,/talk to yourself:/“It’s all downhill now,/right into the hole!”
One more tip:/Talk to yourself in the second person. Instead of saying,/“I’m going to make that shot,”/say,/“Chris,/you’re going to make that shot.” “Sally,/there’s no way in the world you can double-fault!”
It may not work every time,/but in the long run, it will.
Stay focused. Relax. Great advice. But how do you do that? One way is self-talk.
Your mind, emotions, and your muscles/all work together. If you tell yourself you’ll fail,/your performance will suffer. Champions use positive self-talk/to stay focused under pressure.
Develop positive cue words/to encourage yourself. Use these words/whenever you are feeling mad, sad, or scared. Here are examples/of negative and positive self-talk:
It’s just too tough! / I love new challenges!
We’ re down 20 to nothing ! / It’s not over till it’s over.
I’ve never done this before! / Here’s a chance/to learn something new.
Whatever your game is,/switch off the negative/and turn on the positive. If you’re a basketball player/shooting a free-throw,/tell yourself:/“That basket is as big as Lake Biwa! I can’t miss!” If you’re a golfer/trying to make a putt,/talk to yourself:/“It’s all downhill now,/right into the hole!”
One more tip:/Talk to yourself in the second person. Instead of saying,/“I’m going to make that shot,”/say,/“Chris,/you’re going to make that shot.” “Sally,/there’s no way in the world you can double-fault!”
It may not work every time,/but in the long run, it will.