Quotes on sport and psychology

“By learning to think like athletes, you'll see that motivation, emotional regulation, focus, mental toughness, and confidence can all change. They aren't set in stone. You can strengthen each of these qualities with the right mental tools.”

“Reappraisal is about understanding how events shape our thoughts, how thoughts shape our emotions, and how all of that shapes our actions. We can change the trajectory of our emotional reactions by transforming how we think about an event.”

“Writing down your thoughts and feelings in a notebook can help clear your mind of negative emotions and stop you from feeling stuck.”

“The key to if–then planning is that any situation can be linked to a response that serves the goal you're pursuing.”

“If–then plans are especially effective at helping us overcome tough obstacles. They help us perform at our best when something goes wrong.”

“Building the right rituals can also help your focus. Two common types successful athletes use are rituals before an event and rituals after it.”

“Specific goals can make us feel pressure when we're expected to meet a certain standard. That isn't necessarily bad—pressure can motivate more experienced performers to reach higher levels of effectiveness.”

“To get what you want, you first have to be who you really are.”

“You can't fix a situation until you stop making it worse.”

“They think about everything that could go wrong, about what others are doing, they think… Instead, simply know, without any doubt: it's all in my hands.”

“For me, success isn't about how much money I can make—that was never the point. Success is doing what nobody else can do.”

“You can't wait for others to fulfill your dreams. They have their own dreams; they don't care about yours. Someone may want to help when they can, but in the end, it all depends on you. Surround yourself with the best, know your strengths and weaknesses, and let others do what they do best. But ultimately, the responsibility is still yours. Make a plan and execute it.”