As usual, one day last week I was in search of the perfect golf swing over a coffee, when my cherished belief came to mind: The game of golf is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. I am a passionate believer that no one can achieve their full potential in any sport unless they possess a good mindset.
Ordinary people regard all sports as physical games, but once you reach a high level, sports become more mental. The ability to push oneself beyond one's comfort zone makes the difference between top-class athletes and average amateurs.
Indeed, you can hardly see any visible difference between winners and losers in a competition. Their playing abilities are equally high. Their mindset decides winner and loser. If doubt comes into your mind before you start playing, you will lose the game.
To be a winner, or rather to achieve your peak performance, you need to be brimming with a positive mindset. After all, a peak performance mindset comprises willpower, patience, perseverance, discipline and focus. Typically, it is a jovial, optimistic mood that spurs you to perform to the best of your ability.
Here are several ingredients essential for a proper mental attitude or inclination necessary to achieve peak performance in sports.
Concentrate:
When you do one task while thinking about another, you cannot achieve the best results. This principle holds equally true for sports. To reach your peak performance, you need to apply your mind to what you are doing.
A great way to apply yourself to the task you are about to carry out is to take a short break. The brain cannot stay at attention for hours at a time. Besides, performing an activity for long periods could lead to lethargy or fatigue. You'd better take short, frequent breaks to focus better on the ensuing business with more energy.
Don't be afraid of failure:
You will occasionally sustain failures along the way to reach peak performance. To become a peak performer, you need to treat every failure as a learning experience. Do not sidestep obstacles or challenges. Do not let your fear of failure deter or discourage you.
Be courageous and try to move out of your comfort zone rather than merely remaining safe. Believe in yourself and try what no one else does. If you risk nothing, you won't be able to achieve anything. Learn to revel in those unavoidable failures that you might undergo on the way to reach your peak performance. After all, failure is an invaluable experience that betokens improvement and success on the way.
Be confident:
Typically, failure stems from a lack of confidence rather than a lack of talent. No one can perform to the maximum of their abilities unless they have confidence or a positive, optimistic mindset. But you can readily pull off extraordinary feats as long as you have faith in yourself and your abilities. Despite your great talent and prowess, you will hardly perform brilliantly or outshine others if you doubt yourself or do not get yourself mentally prepared.
Remain consistent:
Ask every morning whether you want to be a world-class performer or a bleak player. Once you've decided to achieve your peak performance, make sure that your actions match your wish. Peak performance comes only with practice, patience and persistence. Be determined and remain solidly consistent.
The author (kimjstar@hanmail.net) lives in a rural village near Seoul, studying and teaching golf.