Soccer Players Learn to Use Their Head

The Mental Strength Training Center announced today the release of a Sport Psychology and mental skills training program for Soccer players and coaches. 

To help soccer players, coaches and parents of soccer athletes become better teammates, leaders and athletes, the Mental Strength Training Center, working with world class Mental Skills coach and Indiana University Professor Dr. Gary Sailes, created the MENTAL STRENGTH TRAINING PROGRAM FOR SOCCER, a 2-phase training program contained on two CD’s. 

Dr. Gary Sailes is an accomplished professor, having worked with dozens of professional athletes, universities, and other high profile individuals. Topics of the program include; Why mentally fit soccer athletes perform better, How to play to your potential, How to increase your speed, agility, and footwork through mental strength, How to be more confident, What to focus on while playing, How to stay relaxed in the stressful situations, and How to visualize success.

The MENTAL STRENGTH TRAINING PROGRAM FOR SOCCER features The Mental Strength Training Center CEO, Samuel F. Hirschberg in an interview format with Dr. Gary Sailes. The sports psychology for soccer program is easy to listen to and easy to learn from. The program features a 42-item self-inventory checklist, and a 10-question true/false exam to ensure maximum retention and understanding of the core principles. The MENTAL STRENGTH TRAINING PROGRAM FOR SOCCER, 2 CD’s, 42-item Mental Strength Inventory, and exam, $99, can be purchased online at www.mentalstrength.com for digital download, or the 2-CD’s are shipped priority mail through the United States Postal Service (USPS).

About Mental Strength.com
Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.75 and we have lots of great products to help you gain confidence and change your life for the better. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

Real-life fast-moving concentration

Ok, last week we built upon your concentration skills.

Static concentration that is.

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Now, let's move it.
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Literally.

You developed your concentration skills while totally focused on every contour, color, shape, size and detail of the object in question, i.e., baseball bat, tennis ball, golf ball, football, basketball, and so forth.

Now, go onto the playing field.

Throw a perfect pass.

Hit a serve.

Swing the bat.

Run a perfect sprint.

Perform the perfect stroke.

Whatever you do, simply relax, and perform it exactly as you want.  No pressure.

As you do it, imagine you are up in the clouds, looking down, watching yourself -- slowing your performance.

When you are done, replay every detail in your mind.

If you can't do it yet, that's ok, keep performing and realizing more detail each time you do. Smell the grass, feel the air in your face, listen to the kids playing on the basketball court... every detail.

Continue to practice this motion picture in your mind.

Every time you do you'll notice more and more details.  You'll begin to train your mind to train your body to perform the way you want under real-life, balls flying, water splashing, fast-moving circumstances.

Keep trying.

'til next week,

Sam

About Mental Strength.com
Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

Handling Distractions, Part 2

You should now have a list of your responses to some of the common distractions affecting your play.

Such as...

Your violent outburst to the baby crying ...
or...
You spending the next four points wondering why you double faulted on game point.

And if you have no idea what I am talking about, please read the tip from last week, so that you get caught up:
http://www.mentalstrength.com/article.php?varset=s:121-pm:p-se:4078-e:9573-a:7252

The bottom line is this:
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You need to get back on track...
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and get over whatever caused your distraction. 

How do you do that?

Simple.

Focus on something in the here-n-now.

So, let's focus on your breathing.

What I like to do is concentrate on the breath coming into my lungs, and then, the exhaling of the breath going out my lungs.

And while I am breathing, I go about my task at hand.

Give it a try.  I am confident this will help you to get relaxed, re-focus on what you are doing, and stop dwelling on things you no longer have any control over.

'til next week,

Sam

About Mental Strength.com
Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

Where NOT to Start

We get dozens of questions everyday. 

Since we can’t get to every single question, this week, I figured I’d address the most frequently asked, which deals with gaining better performance through mental rehearsal. 

So what’s the most asked question?

= = = = = = = = = = = =
"Where do I start?"
= = = = = = = = = = = = 

Let’s answer this with where NOT to start. 

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Don’t start with a negative.
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Instead, start with a positive. 

For example, back in the 1988 Olympic games, Greg Louganis hit the back of his head on the diving board in a qualifying round.  You probably remember seeing countless images of this played over and over and over and over again by the ‘not-so-helpful’ news media. 

But, I betcha you didn’t know that Greg absolutely would not watch this video tape.  Can you guess why? 

He feared that if he watched it he would create a powerful subconscious, negative, video-clip-in-his-mind undermining all his hard work. 

So instead, he focused on creating perfect dives in his mind, and then went on to win two Gold medals -- with five stitches in his head! 

Now, I could rant-and-rave about how destructive the TV is, because it constantly overwhelms our minds with negative images, definitely affecting our daily "life" performances.  But I won’t. 

I could get on my "soap box" about how you need to have a positive mental outlook in your life, but you already know this.  So I won’t. 

But I will tell you to carefully monitor the pictures that are being replayed, again and again, in your head.  Because you can either picture what you WANT, or, by default, your mind will picture things you DON’T want (things the media and high-priced advertisers want FOR you). 

(This simple little principle probably has a lot to do with the little maniacs running around shooting people and creating havoc.  But I’m not gonna go there.) 

So chances are pretty darned high that whatever you play in your head, will come true! 

Please... choose what YOU want. 

About Mental Strength.com
Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

What is Your Definition of Mental Strength?

We have gotten a tremendous response from the definition of MENTAL TOUGHNESSS.

So let's do another.

Again, I am after your own, personal, deep down definition.

Really the only definition that truly makes a difference in your life.

I, and other experts can give you input until we are blue in the face.  But unless and until you believe and internalize the message...

...it will not help your output in the slightest.

That is the reason for working from the inside out.

So, what is your definition of:
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MENTAL STRENGTH
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Here is the dictionary.com definition:

Mental
1. Of or relating to the mind; intellectual: mental powers.
2. Executed or performed by the mind; existing in the mind: mental images of happy times. 

Strength
1. The state, property, or quality of being strong.
2. The power to resist attack; impregnability.
3. The power to resist strain or stress; durability.
4. The ability to maintain a moral or intellectual position firmly.
5. Capacity or potential for effective action: a show of strength. 

So, what does mental strength mean to you?

'till next week,

Sam

About Mental Strength.com

Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.75 and we have lots of great products to help you gain confidence and change your life for the better. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

Being A Good Teammate

World Class Team Building expert and Sport Psychologist Karlene Sugarman revealed some interesting tactics in our most recent Teleseminar.

Karlene related team building strategies of Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots Head Coach, which she says has a lot to do with their massive success. 

So I thought I'd pass it along to you.

Karlene said not only do successful teams have a clear mission which goes much deeper than simply saying:

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We Must Win All the Time
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But that each team member must know exactly what role they play as it relates to the team's mission.

And this is at the core of why Bill Belichick has realized such amazing success.

Every member of the New England Patriots knows exactly how they contribute, down to every last play, every last down, and even in every practice scrimmage.

So, whether you are playing tennis with your doubles partner or blocking for your running back, clearly defining the roles of each team member will not only make you a better teammate, but you'll have a heck of a lot more fun...

And you'll probably win more often.

'till next week,

Sam

About Mental Strength.com

Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

REVIEW: The Home Depot Olympic Training Center

Name of location: The Home Depot Center
 
City/State/Country: Carson, CA, USA
 
Website:  http://www.homedepotcenter.com

Reason for going: The Home Depot Center was home of the 2005 United States Davis Cup first round play vs. Croatia.  Where the United States tennis team including Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick and the doubles team of Mike and Bob Bryan hosted the Croatian team including Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic.

About the Home Depot Center: The Home Depot Center is a 125-acre development in Carson, California, featuring stadiums and facilities for soccer, tennis, track & field, cycling, volleyball, baseball, softball, basketball and other sports. Designated as an “Official U.S. Olympic Training Site,” The Home Depot Center is the nation’s most complete training facility for Olympic, amateur and professional athletes.

Created around a 27,000-seat soccer stadium, 13,000-seat tennis stadium, 20,000-seat track & field facility and indoor velodrome –The ADT Event Center, the complex is located on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills. The Home Depot Center is the home of the 2002 MLS Cup Champion Los Angeles Galaxy, Club Deportivo Chivas USA (MLS expansion team for 2005 season) and the U.S. Soccer Federation (national team training headquarters).  

The complex has also been designated “official” training sites for USA Cycling, United States Track & Field, the AVP and the USTA, as home of the USA Tennis High Performance National Training Center.  The Home Depot Center is also home to Athletes’ Performance Los Angeles, a nationally recognized training center for elite and professional athletes and is the summer training camp site for the San Diego Chargers (NFL).

Rating system: 1-5 stars 
5 stars: absolutely incredible!
1 star: much room for improvement

Service of staff: 3.00
Friendliness of staff: 3.00
Maintenance of grounds, lavatories, and overall cleanliness: 4.50
Quality and cleanliness of food services: 2.00
Surroundings and Environment: 2.00
 
Comments: It was very windy and got very cold, rapidly, as soon as the sun began to go down below the stands around 2:30 pm PST.  Even though all their security equipment was set up, and several security employees stood there, they did not let us out of the facility to get jackets, blankets, etc out of the car.  That was very disappointing.  Granted, we received complimentary tickets, but most people spent in excess of $100 per seat to attend, plus all the other expenses it took to get there. Major downer.

I suppose I should expect the extremely high prices for food, souvenirs and trinkets. But, a simple cup of coffee was about $4.00!  Oh well, it sure tasted good when we couldn’t get back to get warm clothes.

The facility itself was nice, and well kept.  Everything was relatively new, no graffiti, and nice structures.  We do look forward to going to a soccer game as the field looked great, and every seat appeared to be a “good seat.”

Overall average rating: 2.90 out of 5.00

Was it worth the price?
 
We had a lot of fun, and the seats were quite good from almost anywhere in the stadium.  I was very disappointed in the “Nazi” attitude we received when trying to go out and get a jacket.  We did like the facility, and plan on coming back to view a soccer game one day.

The Million Dollar Question:  Would I come back?
Yes.

About Mental Strength.com

Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

Five Traits of a World Class Competitor

... While I was at the first round of Davis Cup Tennis play in Carson, California, I was struck with inspiration.

I felt compelled to share with you my opinions on world-class athletes, how I think you can benefit, and where we plan to take the Mental Strength Training Center in the coming months.

As I watched Andre Agassi play Ivan Ljubicic and Andy Roddick battle Mario Ancic from Croatia on center court of the Home Depot Training Center, I thought to myself, “Boy, I can do that, I can hit that hard, can move like that and can probably even hit it harder in some cases.”  


...Whammo!...  and this is where the rubber hits the road.

You know... the real difference between being good, and being great.
And that is what struck me to compose these five traits; the core components of a great competitor.   You see, dedicating yourself to become just 5% better in each of these qualities, will exponentially improve your results.  And to help you become better, these five traits will create the foundation of where we will go with the Mental Strength Training Center in the future.

Now, I am being slightly biased here since I am a former competitive tennis athlete, and I really do believe tennis ranks among the most physically demanding of sports.  But these five traits apply to all sports, including basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, football, golf, equestrian, and so on.
The sport doesn’t matter.

The Five Traits of a World Class Competitor

1. World Class Competitors are great athletes – And more importantly they work hard at being better on the basics.  Simply dedicating yourself to being better in every main category of sport-specific fitness will make you a better competitor.  Focus on flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, strength and conditioning, performance nutrition and mental strength.  
   
   
2. World Class Competitors have great awareness – These particular tennis athletes all showed great court awareness.  Great athletes are flat-out aware of their surroundings.  They practice being aware.  They are aware of the present moment, can anticipate opponents moves, anticipate ball movement based on spins, weather and racquet trajectory.   They know where they are on the court, or the playing field, and how they relate to where their opponent is.  They are also aware of what the highest probability of options the opponent has based on all the variables.  They see the ball, the court, the opponent and themselves very well.   Dr. Gary Sailes calls it “broad” focus and “narrow” focus, as he and many of the experts at the Mental Strength Training Center reveal strategies in the resources.
   
   
3. World Class Competitors know how to win.  They are confident in their game under pressure.  They understand that winning is an attitude, and a habit.  Winners kick and fight and scratch and overcome, until they do.   And they have usually started this habit as a youngster, so it is deeply engrained in their psyche.  But, this is a habit that you can develop under the right guidance at any age.  Get into the Teleseminars and resources found at the Mental Strength Training Center as there are lots of resources to help you.
   
   
4. World Class Competitors are realistic – Great competitors play within themselves.   They are conservative, but at anytime can turn their “A” games on when they need to.  This is a trait that helped Ivan Ljubicic beat Andre Agassi.  It really is about confidence and conservation -- finding the balance and constantly tweaking the two based on the situation.  Similar to a balancing act.
   
   
5. World Class Competitors know how to deal with injuries when they occur.  As an athlete, injuries are a fact of life.  How you think about injuries, and how you bounce back from injuries play an integral role in your playing time, recovery rate, and your confidence.  If you study the great competitors that have had long careers, you will find that they are masters at dealing with injuries.

If you focus on becoming better at each of the five components, you will find that when you get better at one, you will increase your effectiveness at another.  

Combine these five traits, focus on small, incremental growth in each trait and you will experience improvement faster than you ever thought possible!

About Mental Strength.com

Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

Handling Distractions, Part 1

I always laughed at golfers that couldn't swing a club unless EVERYONE could hear a pin drop.

That just ain't realistic.

Then, these same athletes would get mad and frustrated -- literally ruining their entire day.

You see, noise and distractions are the norm and the perfect conditions are rare.
Lots of things can cause you to get distracted.

Maybe you are losing to someone that everyone thinks you should beat...

Or, maybe the young baseball team is making too much noise on the adjoining field...

Or the girls making up your golf foursome are talking too much...

Whatever is causing 'your' distractions, I ask you this...

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Is it your problem, or is it the distractions' problem?
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99% of the time it is your problem.

After all, your success in sports and in life is not dependent upon what happens to you...

but, rather...

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How you re-act to what happens to you
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So, I have some homework for you.

I want you to carefully watch your responses to the things that occur to you -- the good and the bad.

Write 'em down. 

I'll show you what to do with your findings next week. 

Sam

About Mental Strength.com

Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

Right now, or...?

I'll never forget getting matched up against a taller, faster, more powerful tennis player in a third round match, many years ago.

He was better than I.

He knew it. And I knew it.

Although, somehow I won the first set 6-1 and was up in the second 4-1. Only needing two more games to get into the next round.

Looking back, I'm not quite sure how this happened.

I must have been intensely focused on what I was doing.

You see, at any given time, you can either be focusing on what you are doing right now, whole-heartedly...

or...

You can be focusing on something else.
There are no in-betweens.

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What happened next
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Since I had such a commanding lead, I decided to start thinking about my next match rather than the match I was actually playing. 

Maybe you can relate.  If not in the sport you play, maybe it's in the sales call you are making right now (not the next one, or the one after that), the one you are invested in, at this very moment.

And to make a long story short, my opponent came back, and HE won.

Rather than beat myself up, after losing a commanding lead, this one event became one of the greatest learning experiences of my career, and my life.

It taught me that we really don't have a next.

Only a "right now".

Wishing you the best "right now".

'til next week,

Sam

About Mental Strength.com

Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

Mental Strength: Do you think fast?

In the 1930's a Northwestern grad student in the psychology department, E.F. "Al" Wonderlic, invented the test that came to be known as the Wonderlic. Each year, nearly 3 million job applicants in every line of work take the Wonderlic. NFL combine athletes must take it as well. The Wonderlic is a timed IQ test, consisting of 50 questions, ranging form easy, to hard, and must be completed in 12 minutes. Each question equals one point. What's good? Well, the average scores in some professions look like this: Chemist: 31 Programmer: 29 Sales: 24 Bank teller: 22 Security Guard: 17 The average NFL combiner scores a 21. Former Bengals punter and Harvard grad Pat McInally scored a perfect 50 -- the only NFL player known to do so. What's a sample question look like?  According to ESPN's Closer Look online articles, here are five: 1. Assume the first two statements are true. Is the final one: 1. true,  2. false,  3. not certain?  The boy plays baseball. All baseball players wear hats. The boy wears a hat. 2. Paper sells for 21 cents per pad. What will four pads cost? 3. The hours of daylight and darkness in SEPTEMBER are nearest equal to the hours of daylight and darkness in: 1.June,  2. March,  3. May,  4. November.  4. A boy is 17 years old and his sister is twice as old. When the boy is 23 years old, what will be the age of his sister? 5. RESENT RESERVE • Do these words 1. have similar meanings, 2. have contradictory meanings, 3. mean neither the same nor opposite? A well-rounded athlete isn't simply about how many 225-lb bench presses can be performed, or the speed of one's 40, but also ... the fast wit of one's mind. (I know a great place where you can increase your mental skills... yup, www.mentalstrength.com, of course) By the way, in case you want the official answers to the above, they are: 1. true, 2. 84 cents, 3. March, 4. 40 years old, 5. mean neither the same nor opposite. 'till next week, Sam P.S. Last week, we overlooked the hypertext link to the Mental Strength Credo.  To access the important 12-step life-changing credo, go here: http://www.mentalstrength.com For more information, visit: ESPN Closer Look: http://espn.go.com/page2/s/closer/020228test.html

About Mental Strength.com

Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

Mental Strength Tip: 4 Ways to Better Use Positive Energy

Everyone has heard that a Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) is helpful to reach one's goals.

But what does that mean, really?

If someone deliberately bangs your favorite tennis racquet into the concrete, are you supposed to smile and thank them in the name of PMA?

If the opposing linebacker blind-sides you after you get a pass off to the receiver, should you help them up because they fell over while spiking you?

Of course not.

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You may not be able to control the actions of others, but you do have total control over your own attitude.
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And being positive is always better.

A positive mental attitude creates positive emotional energy.  They are basically one in the same. They go hand in hand, and are the keys to a healthy, successful athletic career. The more positive you are, the better your sporting career will be, in addition to your life in every area. 

Positive emotions give you energy, while negative emotions deplete your energy.  When you are excited, enthusiastic, happy and are interacting with people and activities you love and enjoy, you sparkle with energy and enthusiasm.  When you are angry or depressed, or negative for any reason, you feel tired and frustrated and, eventually, burned out. 

Another characteristic of very successful people is that they keep themselves calm much longer than the average person does. They are more relaxed and more in control of their emotions. They are very aware that expressions of negative emotion deprive them of the energy they need to be effective in the more important things they do. They don’t allow themselves to become easily upset or angry.  They remain objective and detached.

They stand back and refuse to take things personally.  They do not allow themselves to get drawn into arguments or other people’s problems. They save their energy for more productive purposes.

One way to keep yourself in control is through utilizing physical relaxation techniques.

The whole purpose of physical relaxation is to allow yourself to recharge your emotional and mental batteries - building up your mental and emotional energies.

Here are four things you can do immediately:

1. Keep your thoughts on the things you want, and away from the things you don’t want.  Focus on your dreams and goals, and keep them off of the things and people that cause you stress and stir up negative emotions.
2. Preserve your emotional energy by remaining calm and positive in stressful situations rather than allowing yourself to become upset or angry.
3. Get an ample amount of rest.  Not only does your body need to recover from strenuous training, but your mental and emotional state need Rest and recovery.
4. Get into the Mental Strength Visualization Room. 

Apply these four action steps and you will find your mind and body will become more effective than ever before!

‘till next week,

Sam

About Mental Strength.com

Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

Mental Strength: If It Is To Be ...

I turned on the radio yesterday, as I sometimes do in the car when I am out of CD and audio cassette programs.

A political talk show was on.

The guest was a psychologist. He was on because he was diagnosing 100,000 people suffering from 'post traumatic wrongful-election distress syndrome.'

No Joke.

Now, whether you are part of the blue party, green party, or purple party, it's unimportant for this purpose, really.

What is important is the attitude that is expressed:

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Helplessness, or that someone
is coming to the rescue.
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It has been said that the true sign of maturity is the realization that no one is coming to the rescue.

Except you.

So, I propose that as we begin this new year, that you set some big, hairy, audacious goals for yourself.  Then align yourself with a carefully chosen team of people that can help you achieve those goals.

Then work like crazy.

And so, as you develop your athletic career and your professional career, your motto ought to be:

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If it is to be, it is up to me.
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When you carry a confident, it-is-up-to-me attitude, you will find people are magically attracted to you, wanting to be part of your winning team.

And you will accomplish more, faster than you ever thought possible.

Until next week,

Sam Hirschberg
MentalStrength.com


About Mental Strength.com
Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

You Don't Have to Believe in Mental Imagery. It Works Anyway.

I read an interesting report by Dr. Jonathan Parker titled Visualization and Mental Imagery.  It details three reasons why imagery works.

The full report is available for members, but below is the first one of the three reasons.

In my opinion this component is the most important of the three, but like anything else, for best results you should really get all the working parts.

Get my drift?

Anyway...  Imagery works because images are events to the body.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
To the body, images created in the mind can
be almost as real as actual events.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

(I hope you just had an "AHA" moment.)

(If you didn't, read it again.)

In fact, the mind responds to imagery as if it were something REAL happening, especially when the images strongly evoke sensory memory and fantasy- that means sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feel.

Example:

Recalling the smell and feel of the grass as you dove for a fly ball ... is an image.
Remembering the sound and timbre of the coach, saying he's proud of you ... is an image.
And recalling the internal bristle of energy in your body when you realize you are about to cross the finish line ... is also an image.
These sensory images are the true language of the body, the only language it understands immediately and without question.  To the body, these images can be almost as real as actual events.

This is the first operating principle of imagery.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
You see, our bodies don't discriminate between
sensory images in the mind, and reality.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Once again, the more closely you can imagine what you want to happen, the more your body will go to work in attempt to make it a reality.

Be careful what you think about, because IT REALLY CAN happen.

'till next week,

Sam

About Mental Strength.com
Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

Mental Strength Tip: Confidence Equals Concentration

I interviewed a world-renowned sport psychologist a few days ago, Dr. Alan Goldberg.

Dr. Goldberg worked with the UConn Huskies basketball team in 1999 when they won the National Championship over Duke.

Needless to say he knows his stuff.

Dr. Goldberg suggested that your confidence is determined by what you are concentrating on.

For example...

Do you see the distractions in the stands?

Does your mind wander from place to place; looking at the guys walking around the stadium or checking out the cute girls courtside?

Or, do you think about the way you double-faulted on that last big point?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Causing doubt, fear or worry
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Or, do you concentrate single-mindedly on the task at hand, and let your training habits take over?

Dr. Goldberg discussed an interview he conducted with champion swimmer Mark Spitz, who said, '...training is 90% physical and 10% mental.  After all, you gotta pay your training dues and prepare correctly.  But then ...

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Competition is 10% physical and 90% mental'
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Trust your training and learn to concentrate on the here and now.

'till next week,

Sam

About Mental Strength.com
Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

Mental Strength: Great Quotes

Internalize these quotes, and enjoy the success that you achieve.  You may want to print this page, and post them in a place where you will read them often, such as your refrigerator door, or in your locker.


Print this page and post in a place where you'll read it every day:

• Progress always involves risk – you can't steal second with your foot on first.
• The mature mind seeks to follow through; the immature mind hops from one thing to another.
• It is better being a lion for a day than a sheep all your life.
• Experience tells you what to do; confidence allows you to do it.
• The game of life is not so much playing a good hand, but playing a bad hand well.
• Put all your eggs in one basket. Then watch the basket.
• Nothing is so common as unsuccessful people with talent. All they lack is determination.
• It isn't hard to be good from time to time.  It's hard to be good everyday.
• 'Big shots' are only 'little shots' that keep shooting.
• The secret of success … Put your heart, mind, and soul into even your smallest acts.
• A coach today must be an educator, babysitter, mentor, psychologist, and, most importantly a trusted friend.
• Good experience is what you get when you don't get what you want.
• Most people miss opportunity because it's dressed in overalls and looks like hard work.
• The price of success … Dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want.
• Happy are those who dream dreams and are paying the price to make them come true.
  

Most of these quotes are from Nick Bollettieri's video, 'Developing talent.'

About Mental Strength.com
Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

Mental Strength Tip: Keep it Simple

Today's topic is simple.

So simple that most people miss it.

Last week, I was on the tennis court with a very successful woman. Our lesson topic: How to hit high percentage tennis shots in pressure situations.

We applied the Law of 21, which is the foundation for mastering new techniques through repetition. And after about 40 minutes she got the hang of her new skills quite nicely.

Now in order for new skills, or any skills for that matter, to become automatic you must have the mind uninvolved with the process.

In other words; don't think about it, just do it.

Isn't this the secret that all athletes want to master?

Yes, probably.

Here's the simple technique we did on that 95-degree Thursday morning in southern California:

I asked her to forget everything we just worked on – don't think about it, and simply let your body do it.

Your body knows. It's your mind more often than not that'll set you back.

So, in order to do this I asked her to exhale at contact; that is, when she hit the ball, I asked her to exhale her breath. This kept her focused on her breathing – a present moment activity that lets her body fulfill the task, and keeps her mind from messing up the process.

She proceeded to be about 90% effective, up from about 30%.

Not bad for an hours work.

About Mental Strength.com
Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at just $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com. You can also get Mental Strength.com updates by following us on Twitter @MindStrength.

About MentalStrength.com

Mental Strength Mission:

We are in business for one reason – to use the latest, cutting edge strategies and resources to help you gain more control over your life; including your relationships, career, athletic performance and ultimately gain peace-of-mind.

People we serve are coaches, competitive athletes, business executives, entrepreneurs and business owners – proactive people that know that to get more out of life, one must set goals they are passionate about and aggressively go after them – while simultaneously balancing all parts of life: health, family, spiritual business, financial and most of all fun – we firmly believe that life must be fun!

We are in business to serve proactive people that want to live a more fulfilling life, filled with the self-confidence to set and obtain goals, confidently approach problems, and have the passion and mental strength to achieve more objectives. Join our team today.

Mental Strength Vision:

To be the premier source for better mental performance for people that daily strive to achieve a happier, more productive life. We believe peace-of-mind is the most important goal in life – and will help 1,000,000 high achievers obtain peace-of-mind in their work lives, athletic careers, relationships, and more.

And, please do not worry. We are not fans of spam, and will never abuse your trust. After all, spam is not only extremely annoying and intrusive, but email abusers have made it harder on companies to provide valuable services to help the people they serve.

Let us at MentalStrength.com help you and your career. Become a member today. Life-changing memberships are as low as $14.95.

If you are an expert, a respected coach, a Sport Psychologist, or would like to become part of our team in working with high achievers, business owners, proactive and productive people, athletes and coaches, we welcome you to contact us.

About Mental Strength.com
Mental Strength.com has served over 10,000 highly productive people, including business owners, athletes and coaches since 1999. A cutting edge interactive website, packed with discussion boards, valuable downloads, books, resources and rich multi-media tools, MentalStrength.com is helps its members maintain a great attitude, network with other productive people and obtain life-long mental strength. Memberships start at $14.95. The tip of the week is always complimentary for non-members and available for enrollment at www.mentalstrength.com.