Understanding the Mind-Body Connection

If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.

In the competitive world of sports many athletes – whether amateur or professional – are looking for an edge. Some are convinced that the only way to improve their performance is to lengthen their workouts, or change their diet, or even turn to anabolic steroids or drugs to gain that advantage.

But, in fact, the most potent performance enhancer you have is the three pounds of grey matter located between your ears. It’s more powerful than any other mechanism or vice that you’ll find.

For example, if you are a baseball player, when you approach the plate, do you find yourself saying, “okay, keep your head down, get into a launch position, make sure to get separation and drive with your lower half.” By instructing yourself on every small detail, your body becomes overwhelmed by doing everything just right – and if you know anything about baseball, the second you think when you are in the batter’s box, you lose. 

Remember, your body knows exactly what to do. That is what you have taught it to do during the hundreds of hours you have spent in the cages perfecting your swing. When you are on the field, move away from the analytical side and let the creative – visual side take over. Let your body take over.

Over the past few years, I have discovered that every change in your mental or emotional state is accompanied by a corresponding shift in your physical state. What you think, you become. If you think, “I cannot strike out” - “I cannot let my curve ball hang over the plate” - “I have to strike this next hitter out, or I’m out of the starting rotation.” What happens, you strike out, you let that curve ball hang, and you let the next hitter hit a gap shot to opposite field to score a run.

We want to create a state of mind-body integration conductive to both a physical and mental edge that will allow your mind to take a step back and let your body do what it has been prepared to do. Our self-talk and mental images we have create in our brain can influence physical activity, which will ultimately impact our performance.