How Gratitude can Improve Practice and Performance

If it is true that WHAT YOU FOCUS ON EXPANDS then do you think it is a good idea to talk about and focus on that one thing that you did wrong today in practice?

Absolutely not!  

However, when I ask skaters about how their practice went typically the first thing they share with me is what went wrong.

Watch this video on How Gratitude can Improve Practice and Performance

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Focusing on the Negative

Negative parts of your practice and performance create negative thoughts and those negative thoughts tend to be the stickiest in the mind. Negative thoughts occupy your mind and are what you often share when asked how your practice went.

When you understand the concept that…

 THOUGHTS -> FEELINGS -> BEHAVIOR

 Then you get a better understanding of how a….

 “Negative Thought -> “Negative” Feeling -> “Negative” Behavior

 

You can see how by focusing on what went wrong during your practice or performance you continue to create more of that behavior on the ice.

So how can you break free of this cycle of behavior?

 Create a Practice Gratitude Journal

 Purchase a journal that you can keep by your bed at night. That evening, after practice write down at least 3 things that went well during that practice. There are a range of things you can include in your journal. For example…

“I had a great lesson with my coach”

“My friend complimented me on the ice”

“I landed my double axel for the first time clean”

As long as it is POSITIVE and FOCUSED ON YOU, you can include it in your journal.

 

A gratitude journal works because it allows you to focus on and show gratitude for the things that went well during practice. You then attract more of that positive energy into your life and into your performance.

 

Start implementing this simple tool today and notice the effects it has on your performance and mood. SHARE WITH ME in the comments below how this has helped you. If you feel this information could benefit others, please LIKE and SHARE.

Until next time,

Keep Your Brain in the Game!