Unshakable Self- Belief By: Cheryl Hart The most important factor in achieving a strong mind-body connection is confidence (self-efficacy). You must believe that you are capable of successfully achieving your goals or mastering the “task at hand.” If we break the challenge down into manageable increments, and take these one at a time, it is not so daunting. Think of the adage, “Mile by mile, it’s a trial, but inch by inch---it’s a cinch.” Stay fully in the moment, focusing only on what is within your control in that point in time.
“Mind Games” By: Cheryl Hart My brother-in-law recently ran his first race with me. Over the 10 miles I plotted moves on opponents, checked our pace and pretended to breeze through the eighth mile, though dying inside. That evening, after giving the race some thought, he suddenly said, “I figured it out. What wore me out is there’s just too many mind games!” Though coaches and athletes agree that at least 50 percent of performing well is mental, little time is spent training our mental skills. The challenge is not just in conquering the opponent but the conquering of ourselves. In any athletic event we face and struggle against our insecurities, doubts and fears. “Nowhere is the body-mind connection more delicately balanced than within the arena of competitive sport,” said Dr. James Loehr, director of Sports Psychology at Santabel Harbour Resort. “Being in control allows us to extend beyond our ordinary limits and to become a fuller measure of our potential than thought possible.” Intervals, hill work and killer miles may train the body, but in the end it’s the mind that controls the pace. The ability to dig deep determines who will win on a given day. So often we fail to meet our goals because of negative thinking rather than improper training. It’s important to keep our minds focused on the present
Please visit our sponsors: KORT, Ken Combs Running Store, Alpha Energy Solutions, The Cheddar Box, 2nd Wind Motivation,