Mental Strength for Peak Performance: Warrior Mind Podcast #470

Over six years and going

strong!  With over 1M downloads from over

15 countries and 7 continents’…. this is the Warrior Mind Podcast.

In this episode of the

Warrior Mind Podcast I’m going to review 21 mental strength questions for peak

performance.

Mental

Strength Questions for Peak Performance

To understand if and how well you make use of mental

strength skills (in your select sport), you need to start by assessing and

evaluating how well you use those skills that are applied most often by elite

level athletes.

So…are you up to it?

Are you ready to evaluate your mental skills and

abilities?

Sure you are!

The following questions are adapted from the mental skills inventory and will begin to help you assess your use of the mental strength skills that have been found to enhance performance in elite athletes.

Enjoy

this podcast mental strength questions for peak performance

Energy

Management

Elite athletes use various mental skills and strategies

to manage their physical and mental energy. 

This requires using strategies for relaxation – to calm your body down,

and activation – to get your body fired up.

* Are

you able to increase your energy when feeling lethargic or flat?* Do

you effectively psych yourself up to get ready to practice or competition?* Are

you able to relax efficiently if you get too nervous?

Visualization

This skill was discussed in detail in a previous

post.  Visualization involves creating or

re-creating a full sensory (see, hear, feel, smell and taste) athletic

experience in your mind for the purpose of athletic performance enhancement.

* Do

you imagine fully specific athletic skills and techniques in practice and or

competition before executing the desired skill?* Do

you mentally rehearse the “feel” of the performance?* Do

you “see” the rehearsal through your own eyes?

Goal Setting

This is

an imperative strategy for planning and tracking your athletic performance

level.  Both short-term and long-term

goals, as well as processes and outcome goals are important for maximizing your

personal performance.  Elite level

athletes set both types of goals in their training and competition.

* Do

you set long-term and short-term career or outcome goals?* Do

you set long-term and short-term process or personal performance goals?* Do

you evaluate your progress toward your goals on a consistent basis?

Self-Talk

Again, as discussed in an earlier post, this skill

relates to managing what you mentally (and verbally) say to yourself before,

during and after practice and competition to facilitate performance.

* Do

you talk positively to yourself before, during and after an event or practice?* Are

you your own best friend?* Do

you consciously manage and alter what you say to yourself in practice and

competition?

Emotional Control

Elite athletes are characterized by an ability to manage

their emotions effectively, before, during and after an event.