How Winners Think

“Exceptional people, I have found, either start out being optimistic or learn to be optimistic because they realize that they can’t get what they want in life without being optimistic.” ― Bob Rotella, How Champions Think: In Sports and in Life

Find strategies to perform your best. This becomes a mental model, a habit to rely upon.  

1. Listen to music that activates you 'the right amount.' Some players respond to soothing sounds to remain calm, while others do best with pulse-pounding beats. 

2. Trust the process. Focus on being in the moment, making the next play, and stringing together these plays consistently. Success becomes the reward for working the process. 

Morse code... TTP... trust the process. 

3. Choose a mindset that works. Be excited instead of nervous. Not many players get to play in games that people get excited about. Choose to be excited. 

4. Take a breath. In Ten Minute Toughness, Jason Selk shares a five-step approach to enhance mental toughness... a cleansing breath, identity statement (who you are), visualized highlight reel (3 minutes), performance statement (how you play), and cleansing breath. The simplest is to visualize a square breath - 4 seconds in, 4 second hold, 4 seconds out, and 4 second hold. 

Dot 'b'... stop and take a breath, refocus. 

5. Remember the Performing Under Pressure, "COTE of arms" - confidence, optimism, tenacity, and enthusiasm. 

6. "You can only be as good as you believe you are." Important words a coach, mentor, or parent can share with a child are, "I believe in you." Believe.