Learn.  Love. Grow.

Murphy Athletic Performance

Some ideas about the process of developing Mental Toughness 

1. Daily Focus
   1. Utilizing the power of the mind each day

                                                               i.      Affirmations upon waking and when going to sleep

1.      I.e. “I am a dominating, powerful athlete.”

                                                             ii.      Firing the imagination with powerful thoughts is imperative.

                                                            iii.      5-10 minute visualization every night

                                                           iv.      Mini visualizations throughout the day

1.      Walking across campus, in line at the cafeteria, etc.

2.      1 long, slow deep breath followed by a picture of success on the field, or a picture of the

      aftermath of success (celebrating, congratulations, etc.) – 30 seconds to 1 minute

                                                             v.      Controlling negatives

1.      Learning to observe the mind and control negative thoughts

                                                           vi.  Clearing the mind - daily working on awareness and mindfulness, increasing the ability to turn off your thoughts

1. Become disciplined
   1. Developing routines on and off the field.  Routines for pre-game, night before the game, during the game (i.e. on-deck routine), etc.
   2. As athletes do the daily focus and routines (in addition to their regular practices), they become disciplined

3. See possibilities
   1. As an athlete does the daily focusing, and becomes disciplined then he or she starts to see what’s possible in their life. 
   2. Limitations start to ease off and the athlete works a little harder.

4. Start to believe
   1. The possibilities start to take on more meaning
   2. Stirrings inside the athlete of connecting possibilities to their own life.

5. Feel deserve it
   1. As the player does the daily focusing, which leads to discipline, they begin to see possibilities, then start to believe it’s

             possible for their own lives, then they start to feel like they deserve it.

   1. Dreams start to materialize into a clearer picture

6. See their dream as a reality
   1. When the athlete gets to this stage, then great things start happening.
   2. They start to play up to their potential on a consistent basis, and are not thrown off so far when they face adversity.
   3. These athletes come through in pressure situations time and time again.

This six step process of developing mental toughness all gets back to doing the daily disciplines that come with being an MMG athlete.  Once the athlete learns the power of the mind and how the best athletes utilize it, (from our initial weekend together) then the once a week coaching calls with myself keep the athlete focused and energized throughout the season.  This process creates an athlete that works a little harder physically and does the extra work, because they’ve become believers in themselves.  This in turn creates more confidence, and as the process continues, the athletes develop a presence, a commanding presence not unlike that of the Samurai Warrior.