The human mind does not process negative instructions or deletions.

If I say “Don’t think of a black cat”, you have to think of a black cat first, so that you can try to carry out the instruction. So for a placekicker in rugby or gridiron, or a free thrower in basketball, “I must not miss this kick” Prayed “Whose miss this shot” will be more likely to lead to failure, as the player’s internal dialogue focuses them on the positive element in what they are saying – “Miss…“

Chances are he’s also considering the consequences of missing the kick or throw, and piling the pressure on himself, and his physiology will start to reflect this and harden up. You will be consulting the MAP of your world of kicks or throws and remembering previous instances when you failed, what happened, how you felt, how everyone else felt, the responsibility, etc. This map now also highlights all dangers and difficulties. Suddenly it looks like you’re trying to kick a concrete ball into the smallest of target areas.

Negative instructions bear particularly bitter fruit when the stakes are raised. After all, hitting a wrong note or missing a catch in practice isn’t a big deal. But the same process in context on stage or in a packed stadium adds a whole different set of pressure variables.

They placed an exercise apparatus, the beam, on the ground and invited a group to walk on it. At four inches wide, it posed no internal or external problems, no physical or mental difficulties. The same beam was then suspended between two tall stepladders and the group again invited to walk along it. Reluctance spread like wildfire as the fallout escalated significantly. Falling down was now a problem, as there was the possibility of pain and injury. Small losses of balance (they thought) would be magnified and lead to unsatisfactory results. If that same group had been taught to walk blindfolded perfectly along the beam, would height above ground have been an issue?

Many performance shortfalls can be attributed to our internal dialogue, where our thoughts and words echo in the navigation room where we keep our records. world maps.

At times like this it’s vital to have a strategy for dealing with physical and mental distractions, and self-talk, in a positive way.

• Establish a habitual thought pattern to drive the skill or performance process.
• Perform deep abdominal breathing that provides a good supply of oxygen to the brain and the rest of the body, which helps a more rational thought processing, relaxes the joints and muscles so that they can function properly within the necessary technique.
• Mount an anchor or chain of anchors to be shot at certain moments of pressure. Anchors that will cause a beneficial state of mind and/or body.
• Use localized trance to activate or shut down certain areas of the body.
• Use momentary display to focus or nullify input from all five senses.
• Use an internal dialogue inhibitor such as a) floor-to-ceiling eye movement or b) dampening micro-movements of the tongue by gently resting it close to the upper set of gums.

Some of the above are routines, others are emergency ‘tricks’. Routines can be integrated into a more complex strategy that you know will work for you. Set it up and test it in practice. Practice is your “beam on the floor” scenario after all! The more you set it up blindfolded, the more control you will have when the real situation occurs, when you are “2-3 meters above the ground without any safety net or landing below”.

Dealing with stressful moments and performance pressure, which you know will always be there, is the key to mastering the process and getting the results you want, without having to depend on that lucky one. black cat!