Are You Learning And Growing?

"My goal is to constantly be improving. Year after year you can grow as a player, just as in life. You can always learn something new. And sometimes in the moment you can reveal something in yourself."
Lionel Messi
Sports Illustrated - 5/30/16


Whether it's Lionel Messi or any other all-star player in sports, the exceptional players are always looking for opportunities to learn and grow as they strive to elevate their game to the next level. Here is an excerpt from The Mental Tune-Up which serves as a journal to help athletes develop their mental skills, and become mentally stronger and smarter players.


Day 12 

"Some people learn to lose. Others lose and learn. The latter is a much better approach in my opinion because it focuses the mind on the positives and keeps your thoughts away from the negatives."
Georges St. Pierre
The Way Of The Fight

"The most humble guys, who are the most open and willing to learn, are the ones who become the best."
Sam Sheridan
The Fighter's Mind

What am I learning today to become a better player?


Tone Lanzillo
The Mental Skills Coach
risson1954@gmail.com

Tune In/Tune Out 

Most people who listen to the radio have their favorite station. When you turn it on, you have to make sure that you tune it to the station you want. If not, you will end up hearing something that doesn't interest you or maybe even annoy you. And if you are not paying attention to what you are doing, you'll end up simply getting static or no sound at all.

Likewise, when you are an athlete in practice or a game, you need to learn how to tune in to those things that are beneficial and essential to your performance while, at the same time, tune out whatever will distract you or take you away from your game. You tune in to your goals, your strengths, what you can control, positive thoughts, learning from your mistakes, the present moment, and playing with a sense of purpose. You tune out any comments from the opposing team, negative judgments about yourself, questionable calls by the refs, people yelling from the stands or sidelines, and frustration over the last play.

"Montana was never the most physically gifted player. But he was focused and smart and extremely coachable and had great instincts. He could block everything out around him, and now that ability to push distractions to the side was being put to the ultimate test."
Gary Myers - The Catch: One Play, Two Dynasties, And The Game That Changed The NFL 


Tone Lanzillo
The Mental Skills Coach
risson1954@gmail.com