Jim Graves
Connector Contributor

We all reserve the right to change our mind. It reflects our free will. Who has not had a change of heart? Also, isn’t it amazing how sensitive our behavior is to what we think?

Henry Ford’s quote: “If you think you can, or, if you think you can’t, you’re generally right” is right on the money.

This is certainly true in sports. So, if you want to make some real positive changes in your game, you may simply need to change your mind.

Whether you compete in the rink, pool, classroom, field or court, the “mental game” is there, molding and shaping what we do. Most of the time, it works in the background, silently influencing, but rarely acknowledged.

Some athletes know their mental game is their strength, some know it is their weakness, but most seem to simply let it be and pay it little attention. Most people know that thinking positively is generally a good idea, but they also know that eating right, getting enough rest and exercise, scheduling regular dental checkups, managing time and staying organized are also good ideas. But who does all that?

The mental game is really like those comfortable slippers that you refuse to replace. They are so broken in you do not even know you are wearing them. Our thoughts are that way. We are so used to the way we think we hardly know we are thinking at all.

Many people also seem to believe, i.e. “think,” that thoughts are thoughts, they are what they are, and they are simply automatic responses to what happens around us. In essence, there is little control over how and what we think.

Given the power of our thoughts in shaping what we do, and how well we do it, the notion that there is little control is more than a bit scary. This is where the freedom to change your mind becomes relevant.

Truly, if you are able to change your mind about what class to take or whom to go out with, you can change your mental game, and perhaps, change everything. You can think like a champion. You can think like a person filled with self belief. You can feel excited and eager, when before you felt apprehensive and bored.

I am not talking about deluding yourself with fairy tales or untruths. I am talking about really changing the way you think about things. It is hard at first. It may seem awkward or contrived, but with time and effort new thinking can become automatic.

So, if you want to make some changes in the mental game, first, think about thinking. We do not do much of that. We tend to think about the next game, what it means, what’s before us, what we have to do, and how it might all turn out.

Again, we do not acknowledge how our approach to thinking might be working against us. By focusing attention on our mental game, self-awareness increases immeasurably. Self-awareness is a prerequisite to changing anything.
Identifying how our mental game impacts our performance is the next hurdle to clear. This is not always that easy and you may need some well intended feedback from those who know you. It is hard to be objective about our thinking.

Now, the real work begins. New thoughts, that are true, need to be identified, and they will eventually be used to replace those old, tired, self-defeating thoughts, e.g. “I can’t play in the wind” or “I hate that venue” or “the coach/teacher has it out for me.”

These thoughts can be replaced with, “My opponents hate the wind, I will use that to my advantage” or “What new skills do I need to learn to play well at that venue?” or “The coach/teacher challenges me, I can handle challenges.” New approaches to thinking will create massively different emotional experiences and have a positive impact on performance.

Finally, you will need a plan to “catch” yourself when you’re thinking the usual way. You may need to identify a signal of some sort that warns you. Often a feeling can serve as a reliable messenger that you are going down that road again. Now is the time to re-evaluate if you are thinking is serving you well or working against you.

If the verdict is against, then the new thoughts or perspectives have to be inserted to “counter” the usual. It might even be helpful to write down the new outlook. It takes time, but it takes time to break old habits and create new ones. Keep at it.

It really is as simple as changing your mind. Changing your mind takes motivation, effort, time, and resolve. Not everyone cares to commit that much energy to such a project. Also, it is personal, closer to our self image, and that can feel uncomfortable.

Sometimes it is just easier to simply practice a few more free throws. But, if you take your performance as seriously as advertised, then my advice is to put in some time at the mind gym.