Page 166 - (DK) How to be a GENIUS?

Most people who take up a sport are trying to win,
but this means that someone has to lose. The
difference is usually put down to fitness and ability,
but when physical skills are evenly matched, the
winner is often the competitor who has the
right mental attitude. The same
is probably true of life.

Confidence
Confidence is vital to winning, and this
has been proved by research. In one study,
24 people had their arms strength tested
before an arm-wrestling match. The
researchers deceived the competitors
into believing that the weaker participants
were the stronger ones. In ten out of 12
contests, the weaker wrestlers won!

Setting goals
To get anywhere, you need
to set yourself goals. But
don’t go for the long-term
goal of being the champion—
you need short-term
personal targets that you
can try to hit every day. If you
are a cyclist, for example,
your short-term goal could
be to achieve a faster time
than before—regardless of
who wins the race. This will
increase your confidence. Visualization
Get in the right frame of mind by recalling the sensation
of success. Imagine yourself accepting the prize for first
place—it feels good, doesn’t it? This feeling can help you
win. Also, before the event, visualize yourself moving
smoothly through the activity, and you are more likely
do it perfectly when it matters.

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