Mental imagery has been a major part of each
and every aspect of human evolution, whether the imagery
was evident in our consciousness or not, since before our species had the
ability to realize. In other words, we are what we think, and become what
we believe we can. Mental imagery can provide shortcuts in anything we try
to accomplish. It can also hinder your progress without you realizing
it. If you keep saying you can't hit, for example, you know your
unconscious mind is believing it because it acts like a child and believes you
are infallible. Negative thinking and speaking can only hurt the
team. It's better to say you need to work on your hitting than to throw
your helmet complaining you can't.
By mental imagery we don't
mean closing your eyes and imagining yourself crossing the plate after hitting the
game winning home run. If you really want to improve your hitting, imagine
yourself performing your correct swing on a good pitch. See yourself at
the plate watching the pitcher, waiting for your pitch. Mentally take a pitch
even! Seriously, it will help you remember to be selective. Then see
yourself keeping your head perfectly still while getting the bat head in front
of the plate to make contact with the ball and bring in the winning run (if you
need to keep that part in your motivation).
The
perfect time to practice your mental imagery is when you go to bed while you're
laying there waiting to fall asleep. Relax, close your eyes, and see
yourself performing all aspects of your game from hitting, fielding,
communicating, everything. What your are actually doing is preparing all
of the neuro-muscular pathways within you to learn the proper mechanics of
motion required to perform the tasks of the game, and letting your unconscious
inner self know you believe you can.
In
order to perform physical tasks like hitting and pitching we need to train our
bodies. Physical practice helps by developing the muscles and coordinating
the physical systems of the body to perform the tasks with
efficiency. Mental imagery also helps the same physical
systems. It also helps improve our confidence. Certainly we should
learn the game mentally,
that is by acquiring knowledge of how it is played, and physically by our practicing and playing the
game. The more you fill yourself with both sides of the whole event of
leaning baseball, the better will be the whole of your abilities. You will
be the best you can be only when you can't get any better. So never think
you're the best, but always work only to improve.
IN
THE GAME: The mental part of your game during
a game is often the difference between winning and losing. One team cannot
have the "momentum" in a game unless the other team thinks they
do. Remember, they're not winning just because they are currently
ahead. If we ultimately win the game, even though we are currently behind
12 to nothing, we're winning.
CONCENTRATION
is your key to success. Make it a force-field between you and all of the
possible distractions of the game. When you intensify your concentration,
you give yourself the edge you need to make the big play. Learn to keep
your focus by constantly talking to yourself throughout the game, reminding
yourself all that you have learned about baseball.
If something
ever goes wrong with your game, let it be a learning experience, not a devastating
one. Learn not to dwell on your mistakes; that only increases the
likelihood of repeating them. It's okay to strike out or make an error;
every human does. Don't bring the strike out you had your last at bat to the plate; bring your last hit.
Learn the power of a deep breath*, and use it to change your
"luck." Give yourself the pep talk you need. YOU bring yourself out of it, and listen to your teammates and coaches who are trying to help you.
*A deep breath
can be one of your best weapons in overcoming any obstacle, especially one
accompanied by mental blocking. A mental block is often caused by your
mind mismanaging the information it processes, most often in a panic. Relaxing helps you focus on
what is truly important. Taking a few deep, cleansing breaths is the best
way to restart your whole mental and physical performance.
There are many wrong ways of deep breathing, and only one correct way.
When you say to someone take a deep breath, you'll often see the shoulders move
up to the ears. Wrong. You want to breathe slowly through your nose
with you mouth closed and relaxed (lips closed, jaw open). Feel the air
filling the lower part of your lungs first, and eventually lifting your chest
slightly. Then exhale slowly in the reverse direction. Stand or sit
still. When done correctly it will seem like you are bringing the air
through your nose and into your stomach. Only when your
"stomach" is full does the overflow reach the top of your lungs.
Then, in one fluid motion, the air goes out in the reverse order. This too
may require practice, but it could be one of the most important things you'll
ever learn in your life. Think about it.
