The impact of how we think and what we allow ourselves to focus on has been highlighted during this World Cup as we’ve witnessed some of the giants (Germany, Argentina, Spain and Portugal) knocked out by teams from countries without such a successful World Cup history.
The England sports psychologist, in preparation for a potential shootout situation, has been helping the team to approach it unburdened by the history of previous disappointing England shootouts and with calm nerves.
Even this morning ahead of the England game against Columbia, Gareth Southgate, the team manager has urged them to ‘write their own history’. What can often hold all of us back is the narrative of our past, whereas when we actively and decisively focus on creating a new story we free ourselves to move forward with a new perspective and a new belief in our abilities. The past does not equal the future and only when we truly believe this and when our self-talk mirrors this belief can new feelings and actions flow.