Performance Anxiety: Turning Anxiety into Positive Energy

​Do you perform well during training but choke during matches or critical points?  If the answer to this is yes, you are not alone.  It is one of the most common complaints of the competitive athlete.  Sometimes referred to as choking, it will inevitably diminish your ability to perform at your best.

When the athlete is focused on winning or carries high expectations, choking is more likely.  Athletes need to focus on the here and now, and most importantly focus on their process.  In the present moment, there is no room for doubt, only positive action and the joy of competing. When you look only at what you need to do right now; your score, will take care of itself.  Most importantly, the game is a lot more fun when you focus on what you have control of.  You have control of how you show up, your effort and your mindset.  Dwelling on past mistakes?  Give yourself an inner pep talk, adopt a power pose, take a breath, think about your technique.  All of these strategies will get you back into the game and the results will take care of themselves.   
Got a sport psychology question?  Send it our way at,  [email protected], we would be happy to answer it.
 
ABOUT MICHELLE NEWTON
Sport Psychology Coach, competitive athlete, speaker, author, PECI certified coach.
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