7 Strategies to Help Athletes Manage Negative Thinking
Everyone, even the most elite athletes, struggles with negative thoughts sometimes. But your thoughts don’t have to affect your game. You are not your thoughts and your thoughts don’t have to control you. With the right tools and practice, you can spot toxic self-talk patterns and transform your mental game into one of your best competitive advantages.
Managing Negative Thoughts as an Athlete: 5 Tips to Stop Negative Thought Patterns
Your mental attitude can not only shape your entire game, but the way that you view yourself as an athlete. Negativity also tends to accumulate. When negative thoughts go unchecked, they can snowball, growing bigger and leading to more negative thoughts and an overall pessimistic attitude. When this happens, it can cast a shadow over everything- from the way you perform under pressure, to your relationships with your teammates and coaches, to the way, amount, and frequency that you practice.
Fortunately, with the right tools, you can break out of the cycle of negative thoughts and give yourself a more optimistic outlook.