lady1A few months ago, at football practice, one of the coaches was talking about the relationship between physical conditioning and the role it plays in the mind. Of course this was right after we had just finished up with sprints and most of us gasping for air.

The coach, who just happened to be on a Super Bowl winning team in the past, was saying that when you start feeling tired and winded that it starts to mess with and weaken your mind and confidence and can really bring down your ability to play the game.

Think about it….

You’re in the big game and right at the start you are feeling tired and winded and your legs are getting heavier and heavier. This is going to have a serious effect on your mind and you are going to start doubting yourself and wondering if you can make the plays you need to make, or defend the opposing player you are up against.

This not only just applies to sports, it applies to the majority of things you do in life. And it has to do with preparedness.

For example; when you have that big exam and you know you could have and should have done more to prepare for it you go in taking that test with a lot less confidence than if you had fully prepared for it.

Or you have a speech to give and didn’t rehearse or practice what you are going to say ahead of time and then BOOM, you are in front of a bunch of people sweating bullets, not knowing what to say.

Or you have a big workout session planned but didn’t get enough sleep, ate like crap all day, didn’t drink enough water, and when it’s time to get under the bar you are already beat because you know in your mind  you didn’t prepare yourself the right way.

Like the saying goes: “Perfect practice of the right things make perfect!”

Our minds will give up before our bodies will, and if you know in your mind you didn’t get properly prepared for whatever it is you are taking on then you will be beaten in your mind and that will effect you physically and ultimately lead to failure.

Check out this video of former pro bodybuilder Ian Harrison training me at his gym, City Fitness, in Bradenton, FL. I knew the day before that I was training with him so to prepare, I got plenty of sleep, and ate the right things. And as you will see in the video it was a grueling training session. Yeah there were times when my mind was telling me to quit but by being prepared and with Ian pushing me and having that “never quit” attitude I fought through the mental barriers and finished the sets!

Also when you are at peak physical condition you will be at peak mental strength because of the confidence it gives you and the knowing that your body can push to the limit and beyond what your mind is telling it to do.

This will not only make you a better player on the field but it will make a stronger person when taking on the tasks in everyday life.

Would love to hear your comments on this below. Thanks!

Think, Look and Be Strong!