Sport Psychology - MOLDING A WINNING ATTITUDE WITH AFFIRMATIONS

A winning attitude is a self-confident attitude. One of the most efficient and effective ways of building a winning attitude in your players is through the use of positive self-affirmations. An affirmation is a brief, positive statement that confirms and supports the achievement of a goal. Affirmations are not necessarily statements of current reality, but they are the images a player has of accomplishing their goals.

Affirmations are powerful tools because they shape and focus our self-talk. Self-talk is that constant stream of words and sentences that circulate inside our head. The more we can influence our self-talk the more we can influence our attitude.

Once you have developed realistic, achievable goals with your players, they are ready to create an effective set of affirmations. Writing at least one short, positive, supportive statement for every goal that they identify creates the personal affirmation statement. The steps that must be taken to achieve each goal are also used as the basis for action provoking affirmative statements.

The following suggestions are helpful to the process and you can use these when encouraging players to write affirmations:

(1) Be personal - (Use I, me, my, or your first name) "I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INTENSITY OF MY OWN PERFORMANCE.

(2) Be positive - "I CONSISTENTLY STRIVE TO COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF MY POTENTIAL!"

(3) Use the present tense - "I AM CONFIDENT OF MY ABILITY TO BE SELECTED FOR A STARTING POSITION IN THE TEAM."

(4) Phrase your affirmation as if the goal was already accomplished - "I AM IN IDEAL PHYSICAL AND MENTAL CONDITION."

(5) Change yourself not the other person -"I STAY FOCUSED ON MY GOALS AND I AM UNAFFECTED BY THE BEHAVIOR OF OTHERS."

(6) Do not compare yourself with anyone -"I AM TENACIOUS ABOUT DOING MY VERY BEST!" Avoid "I am more tenacious than…”

(7) Use action words - "I TAKE CHARGE OF MY THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS WHENEVER I TRAIN OR PLAY GAMES."

(8) Be realistic, but stretch - "I HAVE THE SELF-DISCIPLINE NEEDED TO CONSISTENTLY PLAY WELL."

(9) Use feeling words - "I LOVE THE FEELING I GET FROM COMPETING AT MY BEST!"

(10) Avoid and eliminate - "I CAN..." or "I WILL..." or "I ALWAYS..." or "I NEVER..."

Affirmations do not have to be believed but they do have to be believable and repeated often to become internalized. When affirmations are stated and repeated with feeling they have the power to stimulate goal oriented action and focus attention on the successful mastery of critical tasks and skills. Affirmations, when stated aloud at least once every day, tend to gradually replace doubts and negative thoughts with feelings of confidence and positive self-esteem. They support and enhance internal dialogues that are consistent with successful goal achievement.

Encourage your players to place their affirmations in conspicuous places that will cause them to be noticed and encourage them to say them aloud often. If players can get into the habit of saying their affirmations aloud at least once every day, they may be surprised at the positive effect that this can have upon them, their attitude and their performance.

Self Confidence

Motivation

Coping with Performance

Positive Thinking