Focus on Essentials:
The Ability to Think and Reason
January 15, 2019
Insights from Lisa Mitzel

Sport is about speed, strength, endurance, and accuracy. The body pushes, the body moves, and we focus on the body. Now…the mind…

How do we help our athletes think?
How do we help them make good decisions?
How do we help our athletes feel good about themselves in order to perform? Or do we just expect them to do that without help…?

These thinking- and feeling issues directly relate to performing physically at their best. And it’s a fact, mental processes in sports (while facing challenges and pressure) do not come naturally. 
These are skills. Mental skills. The athlete’s mind from a young age is continually developing. We must teach them how to process information. Think and reason. So…if you want your athlete to follow your instructions, push through challenges, and be able to communicate with you, intelligently — go outside the box, ask about their thoughts, listen patiently, and think with them.
A Peek Inside Lisa's Mental Training Sessions…
Athletes Excel when they Process their Thoughts
“I want you to help me enjoy sports again,” said the athlete. “I used to, but I have no motivation to go. My coaches are really tough and yell a lot,” she said. 
“Hmm, that sounds difficult. What do you do?” I asked.
“I feel numb…like I don’t care,” she said.
“Okay, then why do you keep going?”
“I think I can get a scholarship, so I just need to endure three more years.”

This teenager is correct, she has the talent to get a scholarship, but what could we do about the negative treatment? How could I help her? Well, every athlete needs to process their thoughts and feelings and be able to make decisions. I could help her reflect on her experience, validate it, find strategies to manage her challenges and look at all the options. Then she could make her own decision. 
 
I asked her, “What is most important to you about staying with this team?”

“The location is close to my house. Other good teams are far away and it would be difficult to get there.” She seemed clear about the reason why she stays with her team.

Next, I asked her about the yelling. What kind of strategy could she use to focus on her training and not the yelling? She thought but didn’t have an idea, so I asked, “You said the coach calls you names. Can you give me an example?”

“He calls me an idiot,” she said.

“Okay, good one. You’re an idiot.” I smiled. “Now I’m going to be the coach, I’ll call you an idiot, and you’re going to respond like this…”
I got down on one knee, opened up my hands to her, and calmly said, “Thank you for having practices so close to my house.”

She was very surprised at what I did. I explained to her that gratitude is powerful. Connecting to her values and positive thoughts creates incredible clarity in her mind. She will shift from focusing on the negative to what’s important to her. The biggest point was that this is a mental strategy. She would not actually do it. Just imagine it.
So we practiced. I said, “What’s wrong with you, you’re an idiot!” Then she took a breath, got down on her knee and said, “Thank you for having practices so close to my house.”

In that moment, she did not feel like a victim or focus on the negativity. She felt her inner power connecting to the positive. She liked it.

A couple weeks later, she realized her highest priority had changed. It was no longer that the team was close to her house, but it was how she wanted to be treated. Processing her thoughts and connecting to her values truly helped her feel clear. This young athlete, on her own, reflected and decided to seek a new environment where she would be treated with respect. She found it. And she is now super motivated, happy, and thriving.
Spotlight: “Focused” Services at a Discount

Lisa works on transforming individual athletes, she presents exciting clinics, and consults coaches and parents, too. From January 15 to February 15, when new clients mention the line “Thank you for having practices so close to my house,” you will receive a 10% discount on your first session or clinic and a 10% discount on a “Focused” book. Discounts honored through March.

Schedule clinics in 2019, go to Lisa’s website, LisaMitzel.com or reach her at HeyMitz@gmail.com .


Inspiring Gifts

Whether athletes are perfectionists, nervous or quiet, Lisa gives tools and new mindsets for athletes, coaches, and parents. When everyone works together, the athlete is motivated, clear-minded, and optimistic! Be radical, buy “Focused” books, and give your athlete the power of expression.

Focused and On Fire and Focused and Inspired make thoughtful and purposeful gifts for Athletes, Coaches and Parents. We have a Special Offer for the "Lisa Mitzel Pack" of BOTH books for only $35! No promo code needed when ordering online (publisher's website) at: tinyurl.com/LisaMitzelPack
 
Lisa’s Videos: Take-a-Breath Tuesdays.  
My short videos spotlight parts of my books, share news, and support YOU in developing self-awareness and being an effective coach or support in guiding athletes. Follow me on: FB, IG @mitzel_coach, and Twitter.
Focused and Inspired is dedicated to every athlete who has ever been hurt by the misuse of power in sports, and especially dedicated to the athlete-survivors of sexual abuse, who are still healing, and who spoke up and shared their stories. You are so brave! Thank you for helping others to speak up and begin to heal.
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