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Picture yourself
Mental
Image
It is
important to develop a positive mental image of yourself. It’s no use
wanting to be a top tour professional if you really can’t see yourself
as one.
Role
models can play an important part in this process, but be sure to
choose carefully.
Imagination (or imagery) forms a huge part of the game of golf. In
most of us, the brain has a much easier time dealing with
visualisations (mental pictures) than it would with say a complicated
mathematical equation.
Visualisation is a tool vital to playing golf. If you can’t see the
shot, how do you propose to perform it? The same applies to you. If
you can’t imagine your positive self, do you simply expect to be
positive?
Positive imagery when applied to a situation helps you to visualise a
positive experience or outcome. Positive imagery when applied to
yourself helps build self-confidence.
A way
to literally picture yourself is to stand in front of a mirror. Take a
look deep into your eyes and see the positive, determined person
looking back at you. If necessary, speak your positive characteristics
out loud to help reinforce belief.
Animal
Image
An
interesting technique to aid mental strength and focus is to imagine
yourself as a predator.
Example
1:
Change the perception of your surrounding to that of a jungle, a place
where only the strongest and fittest survive. Imagine yourself as a
stealthy predator (like a tiger*), cool, confident, lethal and ‘at
one’ with your surroundings. You are a hunter, an opportunist, a king
of beasts on the prowl and ready to seize any opportunity that
presents itself.
Example
2:
You are a wolf in the forest. At ease with the pack, but a strong,
capable, cunning individual with no fear. You are on the hunt,
stalking your prey, ready to seize opportunity.
Visualising yourself as a dangerous and crafty predator sharpens your
senses whilst promoting a feeling of inner strength and calm
confidence. A stealthy hunter is observant, at one with its
surroundings (a comfortable feeling of belonging), ready and alert.
(*Please excuse the reference to Tiger. This is purely coincidental!) |
