David Kenward - The Mental Coach

Keep your dog safe in hot weather

2011-09-24T17:10:00.000-07:00

There's an article in today's Sacramento Bee about a veterinarian, employed by the UC Davis Veterinary School, who left her Great Dane in her car at the local mall on a hot Sacramento afternoon.
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/24/3934318/uc-davis-vet-apologizes-for-locking.html

According to the story, she left the windows cracked and didn't return to the car for 90 minutes. Lucky for her dog, mall security personnel called the fire department who rescued the dog before the interior temperature had a chance to climb above 108 degrees (that happens really fast).

What people don't understand is that, even if they have the best intentions, it's easy to get distracted and forget you've left your dog (or child) in a hot car, which is deadly for both.

Even though my SUV has dark tinted windows, a windshield sunshade and a big bowl of water, even in the shade with windows down six inches, 10 minutes is my limit without checking on my dog. If that's not enough time, then he stays home (and he usually stays home on hot days anyway for his safety).

Three Secrets to Overcome Sports Anxiety

2011-09-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

It's called sports anxiety, choking under pressure, being in a slump or having the yips. The bottom line is that not being able to do your best under pressure in competition erodes confidence, saps motivation, eliminates opportunities and kills sports careers.

These three secrets (part of my Mental Coaching Method), are the keys to overcoming sports anxiety, getting fast results that last and bringing out peak performance on demand in competition.

Secret 1: Demolish the mental blocks

Most sports performance methods use affirmations or visualization, but if there are mental blocks (self-limiting beliefs) in the way, they will stop those approaches from being effective.

My basic test to find out if someone has a mental block is to ask how they do in practice (or when it doesn't count). If they do OK, but can't bring it out under pressure in competition, then I know they have a mental block. It has to be removed before the player can truly do their best, so that's what I do first. Since everyone (and every mental block) is different, I custom-tailor how I do that for each player.

Secret 2: Create and cue a power point

Once the mental blocks are gone, then it's time to bring up a powerful multi-media memory of a past success, amplify the feeling (again and again) and then cue that powerful feeling so it can be brought back on demand.

This is very similar to feeling an emotion when you hear your favorite song, look at a picture of your best vacation, taste (or smell) your favorite food. We all do this naturally and one of my foundation beliefs is that if you can do something naturally, then you can do it on purpose and cue it.

By using my cutting-edge mental training tools, I make that memory so powerful that it's as if you are actually experiencing it again. That's the only way to make that feeling into a tool you can use in competition.

Secret 3: Test and measure results

At this point, mental practice is used. I have the player compete mentally in various scenarios, with the instructions that they always win. If they don't, then that tells me they still have a mental block and it's back to step one and we repeat the process.

If they are successful, then we move to scenarios where things go wrong and they learn to wash away negative stress, anxiety and emotions, regroup and get back on track.

At this point, I do something that really pushes the envelope - I have them try really hard to find the fear, anxiety, whatever's been holding them back. About 99 percent of the time, they can't because it's gone (they usually look amazed at that point). In that rare one percent, that means there's another mental block, we go back to step one and repeat the process.

Once these three steps are successfully completed (usually in three-to-five mental coaching sessions), then you have a player who is able to compete with confidence, motivation and focus and shrug off negatives. That's how to win the mental game, get peak performance on demand and the competitive edge.

David Kenward - The Mental Coach
thementalcoach@gmail.com
(916) 802-5897

The Clock is Ticking for Tiger Woods

2011-04-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

I recently read an article that had interviews with sports psychologists (and other therapists) talking about Tiger Woods and his denial, shame, addictions, etc.

Sharon Chirban, a Harvard sports psychologist, was quoted in the article as saying; "This has nothing to with his swing. He's an emotional work in progress and the strategies he's used before are not going to fix his failings now. You fix it by continuing to work on understanding what led him to the behavior that caused shame and that's an ongoing process."

What I get so frustrated about is that the public perception seems to be that sports psychology (or therapy or psychiatry) is the only way to fix problems like this. That is just not the case.

The problem with sports psychology (or other therapy) trying to fix Tiger Woods' problem is that it's a long-term process.

But, he doesn't have the luxury of going through years of therapy to overcome what's holding him back. He's a professional athlete who gets paid to perform. He's getting older, younger players are moving up and if Tiger Woods is going to get back into the game as a driving force, he needs to do it soon.

Otherwise, he'll stay in his personal nightmare as a has-been.

Great Golf Tip to Boost Your Mental Game

2011-01-05T08:35:00.000-08:00

Here's a great golf tip to boost your mental game.

Thanks to Sam Snead, a great golfer, for making this tip possible.

David Kenward - The Mental Coach

What To Do When A Player Won't Get Rid Of Their Pain

2010-12-06T09:33:00.000-08:00

Do you know a baseball player, golfer (or someone else) in emotional pain? Maybe it's coming out as being in a slump, choking under pressure, withdrawing from competition or even quitting their sport. It's a problem with their mental game, it's holding them back and you'd think they want relief. But, they rebuff efforts to help them, perhaps even sabotaging suggestions or solutions.
They may say (or show) how bad they feel and how much they want to overcome it, or they may just suffer in silence. It's especially difficult to deal with if it is a friend or loved one.

What can help is to understand that what they are doing doesn't make sense analytically (they may even understand that). What I often hear from the players I work with is that it's like part of them wants relief and another part is holding them back. That is absolutely true. What's holding them back are beliefs, which are driven by powerful emotions such as anger, fear, sadness or guilt.

How can that hold them back? An example is a fear of change. If someone is free of what's been holding them back (or can finally control it) then their life will be different. Maybe they can rise to the next level of competition or get back to where they used to be. Their identity will change, both in their own eyes and the eyes of those around them. People won't be as solicitous or helpful (especially the competition or media). Make no mistake, that can scare the heck out of players and many times they will do anything to maintain their status quo, as painful as it may be.

If you live, work with, or represent them, then what you can do to help them is understand, first, you can't force another person to change. Telling them how to solve their problem won't work, they probably already know what to do. Platitudes or motivational quotes (such as just do it, suck it up, things will get better, keep your chin up, everything happens for a reason, every dark cloud has a silver lining, etc.) won't work either (they usually just aggravate the person you are talking to). Remember, it's a problem with their belief system and trying to solve it analytically won't work.

They may feel better if allowed to vent, but it's your choice whether to listen (and it can be frustrating to listen to the same thing over and over when they aren't doing anything about it).

The bottom line, though, is that it's up to them. You can be supportive and encouraging but, ultimately, it is their choice. The best thing you can do to help them (and yourself) is to let them be who they are and avoid taking responsibility for what they do and how they think and feel.

David Kenward - The Mental Coach
(916) 802-5897

Anyone Think Tiger Woods Doesn't Have A Problem With His Mental Game?

2010-12-06T08:17:00.000-08:00

As I watched Tiger Woods lose the Chevron World Challenge (after starting the final round with a four-stroke lead), I couldn't help wondering - are there any golf enthusiasts out there who DON'T think Tiger Woods has a problem with his mental game?

The mental game is all about how a player does under pressure in competition. It's also all about consistency, bringing out one's potential and getting peak performance on demand.

There are lots of great players out there, many of whom have the ability to win tournaments. But, only a few can bring out their best under the intense pressure of combination. Tiger Woods had that rare gift of combining skill and talent with the ability to bring it out when needed to win.

But, since his domestic troubles began, that gift has gone (or at least it's in hiding). The big question is - will it ever come back?

My take on it is that Tiger Woods can get it back. What he needs to do is go back to his mental game roots. He needs to relearn the tools that helped him powerfully tie mind and body together to make his shots, fade distractions, shrug off negatives and focus directly on the job at hand.

If he can do that, then I believe we'll see the return of Tiger Woods as a force to be reckoned with, which will be good for competition and the world of golf.

David Kenward - The Mental Coach
(916) 802-5897

Tiger Woods' Mental Game is What's Broken, Not His Swing

2010-09-09T10:41:00.000-07:00

The latest Tiger Woods' news is that he's working with Canadian swing coach Sean Foley to redo his swing. I agree that working with a pro to build or improve mechanics is often a great idea.

BUT, Tiger Woods already has a great golf swing and he's certainly proved it, time and time again. So what's going on that he's in such a slump? My take on it is that Tiger Woods' mental game is broken, not his swing.

One thing that can break the mental game are challenges on the personal level. When emotions such as anger, fear, pain or guilt are really strong, as I imagine they might be in Tiger Woods' case, then they reduce focus. Reduced focus means less efficient play. After some public failures, confidence is eroded, leading to motivation slipping, reducing focus even more, setting in place a downward spiral of ever-decreasing confidence, motivation and focus.

That's the real problem. What's the solution? When I've worked with players to resolve similar situations, I've discovered that it's like a row of dominos. Once you get rid of the cause of the problem, it's like toppling the first domino in a line. The rest just follow suit and the problem is solved.

Tiger Woods' mental game is what's broken, not his swing. When he gets his mental game fixed, I believe he'll be back on top. To me that's winning the mental game, which is the secret of peak performance and the competitive edge.

David Kenward - The Mental Coach
http://thementalcoach.com

Was Hoffman's Mental Game Good Enough for the Ryder Cup Team?

2010-09-07T08:10:00.000-07:00

The news just came out and Hoffman was passed over for the fourth spot. One of the justifications I've read from various sources is that there's too much pressure at the Ryder Cup and Hoffman probably can't deal with it, especially considering how many top golf pros have folded from the pressure.

I disagree for three reasons.

First, it all comes down to the mental game of golf, which is how you do under pressure. It was clear, watching Hoffman play, that he was having fun - challenging fun, true, but still fun. In spite of the tremendous pressure, It was clear to me that Hoffman was able to stop thinking and just play. That's winning the mental game.

Second, part of succeeding in golf is letting go of bad shots (and experiences). One of the best ways to do that is by recalling past triumphs. Recent ones make it easier. Hoffman's final round was fantastic, he keeps focusing on that, how it felt, that can be a key to shrugging off bad shots.

Third, and most important, I'd say Hoffman played like he understood that, as golfing great Bobby Jones said, "Golf is played one stroke at a time.” As long as he remembers that, along with a piece of advice Sam Snead offered, "Forget your opponents, always play against par," he should do just fine.

Hoffman proved he had the skill and ability to play exceptionally well. Does he have what it takes to win the mental game and continue playing great? I believe he does.

David Kenward - The Mental Coach

Does Phil Mickelson have a problem with the mental game?

2010-09-06T16:42:00.000-07:00

If you define the mental game as pressure, and how a person reacts under pressure, than my take on it is that Phil Mickelson does have a problem with the mental game. I say this for several reasons.

First, he's been chasing Tiger Woods for a long time, with some heartbreaking losses. That can set up a lot of negative self talk with negative self-fulfilling prophecies. I believe that's what's going on.

Second, he had a great opportunity at the Deutsche Bank to knock Woods off of number one and take his place but, although Mickelson has the skills, ability and potential (and certainly the talent), that opportunity slipped away.

Third, and most distressing, is that Mickelson is fighting psoriatic arthritis, which came on, according to news reports, days before the US OPEN. This type of arthritis is an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system is attacking itself.

When I work with people who are having issues with an autoimmune disease, I always ask - when did it start, what was the trigger? My opinion is that there is something going on in Mickelson's belief system that is resulting in his body attacking itself. The timing of the onset and the fact that the symptoms mean Mickelson has less chance of being the number one player, is a huge red flag. When you work with the mind/body connection, those are the things you look for.

My conclusion is that Phil Mickelson has a huge problem with the mental game - how his mind (and body) are reacting to pressure. I hope he is able to overcome it.

David Kenward - The Mental Coach

The Sports Secret I Learned From The Sundance Kid

2010-09-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

In the movie 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,' Butch was auditioning Sundance for his shooting skills with a pistol. Butch told Sundance to shoot at a target. Sundance aimed his pistol at the target, fired and missed. Butch wasn't impressed.

Then Sundance said that he usually shoots better another way. He put his pistol back in his holster, then quickly drew and fired in one motion, hitting the target over and over.

I see lots of players doing the same thing. They think too much about trying to hit the target and the result is they over analyze, second-guess themselves and miss.

The sports performance secret you can learn from the Sundance Kid? Whether it's throwing a baseball or hitting a golf ball, fix the target in your mind and then stop thinking about it. Let your skills, ability and experience take over and just let it flow.

That's one part of winning the mental game, trusting your ability, and is an important key to peak performance and demand and getting the competitive edge.

David Kenward - The Mental Coach
(916) 802-5897

Thinking or Reacting: What's Better in Competition?

2010-09-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

I worked with a player recently who was thinking too much in competition. He kept second-guessing himself and making changes while in the process of competing. Although he had proven ability in practice, he wasn't doing as well as he should have been in competition.

Recall for a moment the best you ever did in competition - did you succeed without thinking about it? I'll bet you did.

That's why we practice, so it gets so deeply ingrained that when it comes time to hit, throw, catch, race, run, etc., we can do it without thinking about it. Then, if we allow it, we can trust our skills, ability and potential under pressure. That is how you get the competitive edge and that's winning the mental game.

David Kenward - The Mental Coach
http://thementalcoach.com

Could you compete against your idol (or mentor)?

2010-09-03T17:09:00.000-07:00

Watching the US OPEN on Wednesday, I saw a young tennis player, Sally Peers, lose her match in straight sets against an older player, Kim Clijsters. What's interesting is that Sally had an autographed photo taken with Kim in 2003 when Sally was 12 and Kim was 20.
In an interview posted by The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/), Sally's mother said, "Kim's been her idol. She's got a photo of Kim with her arm around her...we got Kim to sign it and it's been up on her wall all these years."

This got me thinking, could you compete against your idol (or mentor) and could you give it 100 percent?

David Kenward - The Mental Coach
www.thementalcoach.com

Golf How To: Letting Go of Bad Shots or Bad Luck

2010-04-07T14:44:00.000-07:00

You've seen it happen. A golfer is playing great, everything is flowing and they seem unstoppable.

Then something happens. A shot goes bad or a gust of wind costs them a stroke (that happened to Harrington at the 2009 Masters). They can lose their rhythm, confidence or focus. Shots go bad, they can choke, get the yips, get more and more stressed and they end up in a vicious circle of frustration. At that point, they've lost the mental game.

If this happens to you, how do you let go of bad shots (or a spot of bad luck)?

One approach is to use The Mental Coach's three-step L-D-F mental game system after every shot.

STEP ONE - L - Learn from what happened
Maybe you misjudged, used the wrong club, didn't account for something, got distracted or were the victim of plain bad luck. Acknowledge it and consciously Learn from it (even if it is saying to yourself that you can't do anything about bad luck). What this does is help take away the emotional power of what happened.

STEP TWO - D - Dump what you don't want
We do this all of the time, something little happens that annoys us, we just let it go. You can learn to do this with anything. Start using a specific word, phrase, gesture, etc. to Dump something that annoys you a little. What you are doing is programming a habit that you can use in other circumstances. What will happen is, once you've developed this skill, you can use it in pressure-cooker situations.

STEP THREE - F - Fresh Start
Before you start your pre-shot routine, give yourself a literal (or figurative) shake to let your mind know that it's time to shift gears and get a Fresh Start. Examples include shaking your fingers, puffing your breath or saying a word or phrase.

The great thing about using mental game systems is that they expand on what we already know how to do. Practice and use the LDFS system and you'll discover an inner confidence that comes from taking control of the mental game.

David Kenward - The Mental Coach

Potential, Pain and Lindsey Vonn

2010-03-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

I can't even imagine how frustrated Lindsey Vonn is. I would assume she must have had high hopes of multiple gold medals at the 2010 Olympic Games. But a deep bruise from an accident resulted in pain, which she had to ski through. If she didn't have the pain, could things have been different? Perhaps they might have been.

To do your very best under pressure, to perform your very best in competition, you need to have 100 percent of your skills, ability and experience, of your potential, focused on the moment. Skiing through pain, like doing anything else through pain, takes away a percentage of your focus, of your potential, and it is impossible to do your absolute best.

Although she had trainers and physicians helping her, she was missing a very important component - the mental game.

The mental game is all about pressure and pain is a large part of that. What Lindsey and her people didn't know is that we all have the mental ability to block pain. What she could have done was learn to block her pain for 30-minute intervals. Then, she could have focused 100 percent on skiing her very best in her events.

When I work with people for pain management, they are amazed by their ability to turn off pain. We all have it hard-wired inside us and we can all learn to use it. In a couple of hours I could have taught Lindsay Vonn to block that pain and reinforce it before every event. But, people make their own decisions whether to allow their minds to be open, or closed, to solutions "outside the box."

We can all learn something from Lindsey Vonn's experience. Is your pain getting in the way of reaching your potential? What are you doing about it? Are you getting the results you want? If not, are you allowing your mind to be open, or closed, to solutions outside the box?

*****
David Kenward - The Mental Coach

Three ways to get past grief that's holding you back

2010-03-19T07:29:00.000-07:00

The reason people can't get past grief is that they have unfinished business stored deep in their belief system. For some reason, that belief system - driven by a powerful emotion or feeling such as anger, fear, sadness, pain or guilt - is stopping them from letting go.

Whether it's of the loss of a loved one, a relationship, job, pet, celebrity, house, financial nest egg, or something else, grieving is the natural process of processing that loss. The time it takes varies, but the desired end result is accepting and moving forward. But what when you can't? What do you do then?

Here are three ideas you can try to get past the grief.

First, have you successfully processed grief in the past? If so, write down how you did it. How did it look, sound and feel? Maybe this is a process that you can repeat with your current situation.

Second, have you shared how you feel or have you kept it locked inside? Keeping it locked inside is like having a pressure cooker with no release valve. You have to get out how you feel, release the pressure, or you'll blow.

Third, give yourself a perspective check. Sometimes we take personal responsibility for things that were out of our control. Letting ourselves be aware of that can help us let go.

If these don't work, you might need something stronger to blast through that belief system holding you back. The way I do it takes three-to-five sessions, contact me to learn more.

*******
David Kenward - The Mental Coach
www.thementalcoach.com
916-802-5897
thementalcoach@gmail.com

When People Won't Let Go Of Their Pain (and how to help them)

2010-03-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

Do you know someone like this? They are in serious pain (physically or emotionally) and you'd think they want relief. But, they rebuff efforts to help them, perhaps even sabotage suggestions or treatments, all the while saying (or showing) how bad they feel and how much they want help. It's especially difficult to understand if it is a friend or loved one. Here are some ways to help the people close to you in these situations.

First, understand that what they are doing doesn't make sense analytically (they may even understand that). What I often hear from clients is that it's like a part of them wants relief and another part is holding them back. That is absolutely true. What's holding them back are beliefs, which are driven by powerful emotions such as anger, fear, sadness or guilt.

How can that hold them back? An example is a fear of change. If someone is free of their pain (or can finally control it) then their life will be different. Their identity as a damaged person will change, both in their own eyes and the eyes of those around them. People won't be as solicitous or helpful. They will need to take more responsibility for their lives and actions. Make no mistake, that scares the heck out of people and many times they will do anything to maintain their comfort level for them, as painful as it may be.

With the work I do, helping people let go of emotional pain and control physical pain (in three-to-five sessions, guaranteed) I see this a lot. I hear the talk of desire to be free of pain and have a better life, but when it comes down to actually doing it, many people are so scared, angry or guilty they won't let themselves even have the possibility of relief. It's frustrating for me (since my business is helping people live better lives), but I don't live or work with them.

If you live or work with them, then what you can do to help them is understand, first, you can't force another person to change. Understand that it's a problem with their belief system and trying to solve it analytically won't work. They may feel better if allowed to vent or share how they feel, but it's your choice whether to listen (and it can be frustrating to listen to the same litany over and over when they aren't doing anything about it). You can validate how they feel - acknowledging that they have the right to their feelings (that can help a lot). You can encourage them to not isolate themselves - to interact with people (real or virtually).

The bottom line, though, is that it's up to them. You can be supportive, encouraging and empathetic but it is their choice. The best thing you can do to help them (and yourself) is to let them be who they are and avoid taking responsibility for what they do and how they feel.

When you lose your nerve (and what to do about it)

2010-02-26T07:53:00.001-08:00

It happens to everyone. You are ready to do some kind of activity (in sports, business, sales, performing, writing, etc.), but something happens. You choke, freeze, avoid it, maybe even break out into a cold sweat just thinking about it. The bottom line is - you just can't do it. It's like part of you wants to do it and part of you has both feet on the brakes.

Analytically you know you have what it takes to succeed (often you've succeeded at it before). Analytically you understand that whatever happened that resulted in you losing your nerve shouldn't stop you from moving on. You get frustrated, angry, guilty and so do those around you. What's happened is that you have a problem with the mental game, you formed a belief that is holding you back.

What can you do about it?

Every problem has a solution. Here is something you can try to get your nerve back.

Write down what happened that made you lose your nerve (if you think you know). Draw a big red circle around it and then a line through it. Then DESTROY that paper - rip it up into confetti, burn it, whatever completely gets rid of it. As you are doing that, tell what's on that paper that it's done, finished, deleted, destroyed, whatever sounds good. What you are doing is communicating with the imagination part of your mind, that's where beliefs are stored.

Then, write down the reasons you should be able to succeed (keep it positive - not why you shouldn't be having the problem). Include successful experiences. After you've written them down, read them out loud. Then, close your eyes and picture (or imagine) doing those things successfully.

Sometimes this is all that's needed to get you back on track.

If that doesn't work for you, then you've got a serious mental block. I can get you past that and my specialty is doing it fast, usually in three-to-five sessions, guaranteed.

Go to: thementalcoach.com to learn how.

**********
David Kenward - The Mental Coach
thementalcoach.com
916-802-5897

When the Law of Attraction Doesn't Work

2010-02-19T13:39:00.000-08:00

In the old X-Files TV show, there was a poster over the character Mulder's desk that had a picture of a flying saucer on it with the words: I Want To Believe.

The ideas of The Secret, of the law of attraction, of abundance through thought, of our thoughts affecting chance, are all so seductive that we want to believe.

We spend lots of time and money (especially money) pursuing each new expert who promises that they are the one who can truly make us successful and happy. When we do everything we are told to do and it doesn't work, then the fallback is that the expert tells us it is our fault, that we really don't want it or we weren't trying hard enough to get it.

Disillusionment sets in, until the next expert surfaces with a new slant, a new pitch and a new group of celebrity testimonials. The result is we feel hope again and lay our money down, with the same result as before.

It's a vicious cycle.

The real truth about the law of attraction is that when you open yourself to possibilities, than you open yourself to becoming aware of and acting on possibilities.

Woody Allen said, "80 percent of success is showing up."

That's what the law of attraction is really about, helping you know where to show up (and what do to when you get there).

So what three things can you do to successfully use the "law of attraction?"

The first is checking your unrealistic expectations at the door. You need to give yourself a reality check. Like the old saying says, if it sounds too good go be true, it probably is.

The second is define your focus. Humans have the brain power to accomplish great things, but you have to stay on track.

The third is overcoming mental blocks (beliefs held in the imagination part of your mind). They can stop you from allowing yourself to succeed. How to overcome them? Self analysis can help. Write down past situations where you didn't have the success you wanted and take a fresh look. Was an inner belief driving that situation? Is that belief a true or false belief? Is it OK to let that go?

The law of attraction can be a powerful force if you use it properly. By having realistic expectations, keeping your focus and staying free of self-limiting beliefs, you can use that supercomputer between your ears to help you get the success you want.

To learn more about how you can overcome mental blocks, unlock your potential and excel in competition, go to: thementalcoach.com

*********
David Kenward - The Mental Coach

Video: Overcome Slumps with The Mental Coach

2009-06-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

Would you like to learn a simple, three-step process that can help you overcome a slump?

Creating Your Mental Game Toolbox. Step Three: POWER PRACTICE SECRETS

2009-04-24T13:38:00.000-07:00

The third step of creating your mental game toolbox is POWER PRACTICE SECRETS.

In step one you analyzed what you want, your payoff and what has and hasn't worked for you in the past. In step two, you learned about mental training tools and you should have picked one or more to start. Now, it's time to put them into action.

What's very important is that you have to practice the tools. You wouldn't learn a sports skill (such as in golf) and never do it again until you compete in a tournament. You'd practice that skill so you'd have it when you really needed it. It's the same with business or sales skills.

The best way I've discovered to get results with mental game tools is to create a method of systematic practice. We learn by repetition, so I suggest you create a checklist so you can track your practice and keep yourself accountable. Mental game tool practice can take as little as two minutes each time. If you do that 10 times a day, that's 20 minutes of your daily life that can result in you succeeding under pressure when you need it.

Another tip is to vary your practice. We can get bored doing the same thing over and over again, but making it interesting can keep you on track. Some ideas: if practicing visualization, use different scenarios and if practicing relaxation, practice in different locations.

By keeping your practice systematic and interesting you will build a pattern of success.

David Kenward - The Mental Coach thementalcoach.com

Creating Your Mental Game Toolbox. Step Two: PICK YOUR TOOLS

2009-04-20T08:08:00.000-07:00

After completing Step One: ANALYZE, the next step in Creating Your Mental Game Toolbox is to PICK YOUR TOOLS. You've written down specifically what you want, whether you want to solve a problem or improve performance (or both), what you've tried and what your success payoff is. Now it's time to figure out what tools can help you do it.

How do you pick tools? Working in a Navy ER, I quickly learned the benefits of using the right tools for the job (and the consequences of using the wrong ones). Pick your tools based on what you want to accomplish.

Do you want confidence, motivation or focus? Do you want to improve in a sport such as golf or in business or sales? Do you want to break a connection to a bad experience? Do you want to feel relaxed before or during competition? Write this down - it will help you judge the effectiveness of your tools and your results.

There are a lot of Mental Game tools out there and you can learn them from a variety of sources (in all price ranges). Tools include: Progressive Relaxation, Guided Imagery, Self-Hypnosis, Visualization and Anchoring. You can learn these and other tools by reading books and making audio tapes for yourself, you can buy generic and custom-made cds and you can also learn them through my workshops and private sessions.

The key is to find tools that you like enough to actually use. Here's a tip: we process our environment with what we see, hear and feel. Using that in your tools make them more effective.

That brings us to the third step in Creating Your Mental Game Toolbox: POWER PRACTICE SECRETS. We'll cover this next time.

David Kenward - The Mental Coach thementalcoach.com

Creating Your Mental Game Toolbox. Step One: ANALYZE

2009-04-17T08:11:00.000-07:00

The great thing about sports is that you get to show off the results of your combination of ability, skills and practice. That's why it's so tough when you're stopped dead by your mental game AKA being in a slump, choking, having the yips, a hitch, meltdowns, etc. But, problems with the mental game can be fixed. Like with anything else, to fix something properly you need the right tools and know what to do with them.

So, what's in your mental game toolbox?

The first step to creating your own mental game toolbox is to ANALYZE.

Everyone is different (that's why I work one-on-one to solve serious problems with pressure in competition).

So, it really is all about you. Get out a pad of paper and start answering some questions.

1) Are you trying to solve a problem or improve your performance?
2) What are you trying to accomplish? Be specific. An example might be: I want to make four-to-six-foot putts to win tournaments under intense pressure.
3) What's your PAYOFF for solving your problem or improving your performance? In other words, what's in it for you? Often there can be a peripheral payoff - someone else benefits, but that will benefit you in some way. Write it down.
4) What's worked for you in the past?
5) What hasn't worked for you in the past?
6) How serious are you? In other words, is it worth taking the time and effort to fix your problem or improve your performance? Only you can answer this and you need to be brutally honest with yourself, otherwise you are just spinning your wheels. It may sound surprising to an intensely competitive person, but not everyone wants to win badly enough to put forth time and effort to make it happen and that's OK.

ANALYZE is a really important step. Bringing a business approach to solving problems with pressure in sports taught me that spending the time to thoroughly analyze what you want to accomplish, in lots of detail, is crucial and will help you succeed..

When you've done then, then you are ready to go to the second step: PICK YOUR TOOLS. We'll cover this next time.

David Kenward - The Mental Coach thementalcoach.com

The big lesson learned from the Masters playoff

2009-04-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

What a wild finish to the Masters! And from a mental game point of view, what a powerful lesson that can be used in your game, whatever it is.

That lesson: just because you're in the woods, doesn't mean it's over!

When Angel Cabrera hit his playoff shot into the woods, it would be easy to think he was through. But I bet that he followed Sam Snead's advice, "Forget your opponents; always play against par."

In other words, focus on what YOU are doing and the results YOU want.

You see, when you do that, it takes a lot of the game-limiting pressure away. Some pressure is good, it can give you that little extra to help you do your best. But when you have too much pressure, you can't do your best.

Congratulations to Angel Cabrera for keeping his focus and using that focus to win the mental game.

David Kenward - The Mental Coach thementalcoach.com