3 powerful mindsets to get in the zone

Intuition is an ability that involves feeling how events will unfold. In order to enter a zone-like state it is important to trust and act on instinct. However there is a huge gulf between intuitive knowing and intuitive acting. How many times during a performance have you said to yourself ‘I knew that was going to happen’ and not acted on this foresight?

Top athletes who enter zone-like states regularly do so because they are prepared to let go, and act on their impulses without fear.

Intuitive knowing and acting is especially important for fast paced sports that demand the co-operation of the mind and body.

A powerful way to develop and strengthen your intuition is to regularly train as if you are performing in the biggest match of your life. This strengthens what is required to perform well at the highest level of sport. By practicing with such intensity and commitment the brain is trained to work automatically under greater levels of pressure, allowing your intuition and instinct to take control of your game.

The biggest predictor of behaviour is state. If you feel good then this positive state will be reflected in the quality of your performance. Spend a few minutes before every performance getting yourself into a resourceful state todramatically increase your chances of performing well. Emotional rehearsal is one way to do this.

Emotional rehearsal uses the power of imagination to create a positive emotional state. By mentally recreating personal experiences, productive states are produced encouraging the deliverance of zone-like performances.

Some athletes create internal pictures of their loved ones; some imagine the end product of feeling good after a strong performance, while others often reminisce about some of their best times in sport.

The subject material that is mentally rehearsed is irrelevant as long as it creates positive feelings.

Be aware, the  more intense your internal experience are, the stronger the impact will be on your subsequent behaviour.

Focus  can take two directions; inwards and outwards.

You should do the bulk of your inward focusing before matches, and your outward focusing during performances.

Applying this principle will improve your chances of entering the zone.

By being outwardly focused during competitive performances you hand control over to your physical motor responses, allowing your body to operate on autopilot. When the mind and body switch to autopilot the chances of entering the zone are increased.

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