Letter from Lhasa, number 215. (Selk 2009): 10-Minute Toughness. The Mental Training Program for Winning Before the Game Begins
by Roberto Abraham Scaruffi
Selk, J., 10-Minute Toughness. The Mental Training Program for Winning Before the Game Begins, McGraw-Hill, 2009.
(Selk 2009).
Jason Selk
This is a mental training program for athletes. It may be extended to other fields and activities, perhaps to whatever competitor.
“I use athletes and competitive sport as my primary examples in the pages that follow, but the principles of mental strength training are the same for competitors on and off the field.” (Selk 2009, p. 8).
“While other sport psychology books do a good job of telling you what to think, 10-Minute Toughness will teach you exactly how to develop the mental toughness needed to formulate and maintain those productive thoughts. It provides individuals with the details needed to accomplish the development of mental toughness. If you complete the mental-strength program provided here, you cannot help but become mentally tougher.” (Selk 2009, p. 6).
It is a program for focusing on the qualities necessary for improvement and consistency. It helps “athletes improve self-confidence. The two most effective ways to develop self-confidence are to perform well and to physically and mentally prepare to perform well.” (Selk 2009, p. 7-8).
The 10-minute mental-training program consists of three phases: [1] the mental workout (initial centring breath, performance statement, personal highlighting reel, identity statement, final centring breath), [2] the goal-setting phase (“The 10-MT goals program helps athletes and coaches identify individual and team vision clarity, as well as product goals and process goals. In addition, Success Logs are used to improve daily goal emphasis. Athletes also complete the Personal Rewards Program Questionnaire to identify the personal incentive style that produces the ideal motivational impact for training and competition intensity.”), [3] the focusing phase.
[1] One’s self-image determines what one is. It is not however sure that what one be follow current success criteria.
[2] Goals have to be set for making you happy, not just for complying with the desires of somebody else.
[3] One has to look for the best solution (consistent with [1] and [2]) in whatever given circumstance.
Selk, J., 10-Minute Toughness. The Mental Training Program for Winning Before the Game Begins, McGraw-Hill, 2009.
