The Myth of the “Zone”

The “Zone,” also known as the flow state, has been described by performers as effortless, where everything clicks perfectly, and they achieve a heightened sense of performance (Jackson et al., 2001). While this state undoubtedly leads to enhanced confidence and focus even under competitive pressure, it is essential to understand that the “Zone” can be elusive and cannot be directly summoned at will.

When the zone calls, you must listen. You never know how long being in the zone lasts.
John Passaro

Since the flow state may happen spontaneously or fleetingly, but it cannot be consistently manufactured, does that also mean that we have to leave our confidence and focus to chance?

Continue reading →

What is NOT Mental Toughness

As a former sports coach, I can relate to the frustration coaches feel after witnessing how their athletes falter during critical moments of competition due to the perceived lack of mental toughness. During these times, mental toughness can seem elusive, especially when it is one of the most used but least understood terms used in sport psychology (Jones et al., 2002). We should explore some of the misinformation related to this construct to gain clarity.

Continue reading →

Positive vs Effective Self-Talk

“It is silly for me to say things that I do not believe, try to ignore all the bad stuff, and pretend that I can do it even when I am not confident.”

The above is a common argument against using self-talk, even though self-talk is one of the most common psychological skills performers utilize. For many, it is perceived as just “lying to yourself.”

So, is self-talk simply about saying positive things, and exactly how effective is self-talk in enhancing performance?

Continue reading →