The 4 Secret Laws of the Sportsperson - by Dr Stephen Simpson

Sport is big business. It always has been, and the power and prestige of the top gladiators in ancient Rome is just one of many examples. Therefore it is no wonder that most teenagers, and often their parents, dream of such sporting success. Many have the talent to make it to the top, but sadly few do. So why is this so, and what can you do to stack the odds on your side?

Without doubt the best starting place is to look very carefully at those stars who have made it. Read and watch all you can about them. What makes them so special? What is the secret of their success?

It is very simple. They have at least four gifts that differentiate them from the pack. Elite performers take these gifts for granted – they think that everybody has them. They are wrong, but that does not mean that you can’t discover them, and use them. You want to take your game to the next level? Of course you do, and the truth is that the fastest, easiest way to do this is to unlock the enormous untapped potential of your mind by adopting these 4 Secret Laws.

The 1st Secret Law concerns the way top athletes talk to themselves.

They think and speak only in positives. They never beat themselves up.

You can do the same. The way you think about yourself is very important. From this moment forward never say a bad thing about yourself again. Just in case you are concerned that you may lose out on the opportunity to learn from your mistakes, fear not. You can trust the rest of the world to point out your mistakes for you, especially as you become a better athlete, and happier in so many other ways. You do not need to give them any help.

The 2nd Secret Law concerns Confidence.

Confidence is critical to playing sport at the highest level. Some days we have it, other days we do not, and it is tantalisingly difficult to explain why this should be so.

Once again, follow the stars. Just as success builds on success, so too does confidence feed on itself. This is how it works. Rather than focussing on the things that are not working in your life celebrate every little thing that does go well. Hold on to that thought for just a little longer than normal, and reinforce it with a physical reminder, such as pressing finger and thumb together. This is called a ‘Confidence Anchor’, and all top athletes and performers have them. Do this ten times every day, and train your brain to focus on success. After a month you will be oozing confidence.

The 3rd Secret Law concerns Visualisation.

All top athletes have highly developed Visualisation skills. Their visualisations are so vivid and packed with so much detail that they are building a self-fulfilling prophecy of their success.

Once again, it is not that difficult. More importantly it is a lot of fun! If you can make a 30 second video then this will be simple. Great movie directors know the importance of creating vivid imagery using all our senses. We have five; what we see, hear, feel, taste, and smell.

Now it is time for you to direct your own movie. Forget the credit crunch, your budget is unlimited. You can hire the best actors, camera and sound technicians, special effects wizards, and travel to the most exotic locations.

How good does that make you feel?

Construct a short movie in your imagination about one important element of your favourite sport. Make sure it is packed with detail relating to your five senses. And don’t forget to make sure you are right in the middle of the action, with a huge smile on your face! Play this movie regularly!

Enjoy incorporating these 3 Secret Laws seamlessly into your favourite sport. Look back after four weeks, and note the differences. Do not be surprised if your playing partners notice even more positive changes.

The added bonus is that these changes work at least equally well in your life outside sport. When you believe things can’t get any better you will be ready to discover how to use Universal Energy to catapult through the next ceiling. This is the 4th Secret Law, and the compelling subject of my next article.

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