Motivation and Selftalk

Motivation and Self Talk




When I was in High School, our Physical Education was tough for me because all we did was play basketball. I dreaded every Tuesday and Thursday, our gym day. I dreaded it because I could not seem to get basketball down. I could run and I could dribble but I just couldn’t seem to get the two together and I will not get into shooting. When I got the ball I panicked, I would do anything to stay away from it. After High School in NJ, I went to collage in WI. I entered my dormitory room and a 6’5” guy welcomed me and suggested that we go out “shot some baskets”. I thought, “They play basketball in Wisconsin too!” I made excuses about term papers and study. (Classes had not even started.)



Remember: Motivation takes place with the perception of control. If you do not feel that you control the end result then you will fail. I never felt in control when I was on the court and just made excuses. I would always say, “I am not an athlete”. As I grew older I decided to exercise and here is where my problem started. I would join a club and go the first week or so and then there were the excuses why I could not get there. One day a friend of mine asked me, “Do you perceive yourself an athlete?” I answered with a real proud “no”. There is the problem; I had a bad virus in my mind’s computer. Athletes exercise and I am not an athlete. I was told several things.



Stop saying that I was not an athlete and start saying I was and with confidence
Say it to myself everyday in a mirror and say it like I meant it. “I am an athlete”
Find a partner to meet at the gym so that I would go and workout everyday.


Well it worked I have been exercising ever since. Athletes exercise, I am an athlete. The way we perceive our self, keeps us where we are today, until we change our self talk.



Anytime someone is having problems with their motivation I always start asking questions.



Diet questions might be:

What is your goal weight?
Do you think you will reach your goal? Look for solid answers.
Do you repeat to yourself “I am overweight”?
Stop saying I am overweight.


Finding a Job:

Do you think you will be hired?
Will it be what you want?
Do you say, I’ll never get a job?
Do you feel you can sell yourself?
Etc.