Mindfulness and Peak Performance

Regardless of the sport or profession, high-performing individuals recognize that mental preparation is just as important IF NOT MORE than physical preparation to achieve athletic excellence.

What is mindfulness?

Well here is Webster's definition of mindfulness.

mind·ful·ness

/ˈmīn(d)f(ə)lnəs/

noun

the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.
"their mindfulness of the wider cinematic tradition"
a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.

Smart individuals turn to mindfulness practices to enhance workouts, recovery and performance in competition, and to cope with stress and pressures in their daily lives. Studies have shown that mindfulness practices can produce positive results in overall health for both emotional and physical well-being, and that mindfulness practices can change the brain and behavior, which may lead to improved focus, concentration and athletic performance. Whether you are a professional, elite or amateur athlete, or simply a weekend warrior, improved mental focus can be the difference between success and failure.

Positivity and Positive Self-talk. WORDS MATTER!

Most of us have an inner monologue running non-stop in our brains. It is how we are wired. The key to utilizing positive self-talk to improve performance and manage stress is to be aware of this inner monologue and focus on how to best manage this internal chatter to achieve optimum performance. It is important that individuals tune into the conversations in their heads to identify when negative self-talk occurs and, over time, begin to change the narrative and tone to positive affirmations. Here is an example:

Negative self-talk:
“I am too tired when I get up to workout.”

Positive self-talk:
“I can and will get a good night's sleep to be able to have a great morning workout.”

I learned this first hand while serving my country in a highly classified government counter terrorist unit. Extremely good shooting skills were required where I came from. I remember one day while on the pistol range an instructor saying something I will never forget, and remained etched in my brain forever. We were practicing shooting one handed. First with our, what is referred to as your “strong” hand, which is my right hand. Then we switched to what 99% of people that teach shooting call the “weak hand”, which in my case was my left hand. But the instructor didn’t call it our “weak hand”. He called it our “other strong hand”. He went into a short speech about how words matter, and that telling yourself you have a “weak hand” was a terrible affirmation and was negative self-talk.

Be cautious when you talk to yourself my friends...WORDS MATTER!

Yours in Fitness and Health!
Joseph Teti | Founder of T1 Performance Nutrition