By Lisa Layne Brown

Worried that thinking about winning will jinx you? Discover what to think about in the weeks leading up to a major competition when you feel nervous, including when to focus on winning.
It’s time to clear up the confusion out there about how you can JINX yourself before a big event (including what mental toughness training to do).
…and please listen up, because this is important.

You will never jinx yourself by thinking about winning BEFORE an event.

Thinking about winning is only a problem if you focus on it DURING your event.

That’s because you cannot control winning.

If you could, you’d always win.

In classic sports psychology terms, if think “outcome” during an event – about winning or performing well, you’ll probably tighten up.

It’s called PRESSING, and we’ve all done it.

When you’re PRESSING – thinking outcome – you stop focusing on what you need to do to win…such as nailing landings, getting a good start out of the blocks, moving your opponent around the court, or driving to the net.

When you focus on outcome, you lose awareness of what’s actually happening in your event, and make tiny mistakes.

So when do you think about winning?

You think about it every day leading up to your event.

In training, in practice, even as you’re falling asleep at night.

In fact, visualizing yourself winning is exactly what you should do.

But once you’re event starts, you get into the Now.

You’re busy.

You’re concentrating.

You’re focused.

You’re completely absorbed in what you’re doing.

Winning — and performing well – takes care of itself.

Besides, you’ve already programmed your mind for success.

It’s handled.

Lisa Lane Brown is the founder of the Courage to Win® and one of the world’s top peak performance coaches. She is famous for helping athletes of all levels become winning, all-star, MVP athletes fast without superficial or exhausting sports psychology. Lisa has helped over 4,852 Olympic, National Team, and elite athletes in over 34 countries use the power of the Courage to Win® to realize their dreams. A three-time world champion in her sport, Lisa has been interviewed by major media such as the New York Times. Entrepreneur Magazine called the Courage to Win® “a straight to problem guide, highly recommended.” Get her FREE mental toughness handbook “Never Choke Again” here.