Mental State. What does that really mean? We always hear that successful individuals are “mentally tough.” Does that mean the “mentally tough” person focuses only on the task and nothing else?
Mental state as defined in AMP IT UP is a condition. It is a balance of eagerness to learn, a mind void of unnecessary thought, positive attitude, proper mental preparation, and a firm belief in the task and/or goal to be achieved. It is a calm, fully relaxed yet ready for action feeling.
Having the proper mental state is like setting the table for a meal for peak performance.
How do we achieve our best mental state to perform at our highest levels?
The proper mental state is not a one-size-fits-all concept. We need to identify “triggers” that place us into a peak performance ready condition. We need to understand how stress directly affects our mental state. Stress can help to a point. Stress is a basic ingredient for peak performance. Stress is having a problem to solve: a presentation, a sports competition, a fancy dinner party, mid-term exams. Too much stress and our mind and body begin to shut down.
To begin let us identify the negative stress factors in your life. To prepare your mental state, you must eliminate previous disruptive thoughts and emotions. You must abandon your fear of failure. First,
list activities or goals in which you have failed. Then take each of the above and write a clarifying statement of why you failed and what you were most worried about while executing the task.
Now you have an idea of thoughts and distractions that cause you not to perform at your highest levels.
When you feel these performance-inhibiting thoughts rising, you must replace them with new thoughts of success. You must visualize a positive end. You must visualize your peak performance.
In essence, you have two performances to deal with: your mental turmoil and the task.
To deal with the mental turmoil/ non-performance thoughts you must completely sever all prior thought and emotional patterns identified above. This process allows you to relax and be in a heightened state at the same time because you have allowed your brain to release both adrenalin and nitric oxide. The adrenalin enhances your mental and physical readiness and the nitric oxide puts your mind in a “happy” state by releasing endorphins and dopamine into your system. Now you have the best of both, eagerness and relaxation. In this state, your mind/ mental state is prepared to have a peak experience, which can be characterized by having great clarity of purpose, freedom from fear and anxiety, and a sense of overall unity; and ultimately a sense of power and personal belief.
Before you can have your peak performance, you must be fully prepared for the task you are engaged in. This comes from the training you have pursued to improve the skill or task you are performing. There is no substitute for mental preparation.
To learn more about the AMP IT UP principles, visit www.BillWeberBooks.com
Bill Weber spent ten years in corporate management for a regional telecommunications company and has been self-employed since 1992. During those 25 plus years, he was responsible to owners and to himself and learned these principles in a business environment. In 2004, he opened a new chapter in his life and followed one of his life’s passions, tennis, and was certified as a USPTA teaching tennis pro. It was then he discovered his love for teaching and his ability to connect with his students.
In 2006, Weber was named the USPTA Northern California Rookie Tennis Pro of the Year and was also honored by the USTA and named the Northern California Junior Area League Coordinator of the year. He currently sits on the USTA Northern California Junior Recreation Committee commissioned to expanding tennis programs through junior participation. Bill manages one of the largest summer junior team tennis leagues in Northern California. He is spearheading the local growth of tennis with our youth by bringing together the local school systems and the cities’ parks and recreation departments. Bill’s philosophy: “I truly believe tennis is a lifelong sport. The key ingredient for learning and playing is attitude. Players, young and old, must first have fun, and then focus on their match.” As a young player learning the game of tennis over 35 years ago Bill’s coaches kindled a lifelong love for the game of tennis in him.
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