Quotes from Gary Mack

You have to train your mind like you train your body. —BRUCE JENNER

Some athletes resist fear, or some try to deny fear. Others attempt to conquer it. Athletes should accept fear and recognize it as the body's way of telling them to become energized. Unmask your fears and face them down. Examine them. "Many times when fear starts to hit me, my best chance of overcoming it lies in facing it squarely and examining it rationally,

No one can outperform his or her self-image. Athletes with inner excellence, like Tiger Woods, believe in themselves and their abilities. They know how to do within when they're doing without. Part of responsibility psychology is knowing that no one can take away your self-esteem without your permission. Have the courage to growup and fulfill your potential.

One key to achieving success in sports is learning how to focus on the task and not let negative thoughts intrude.

Most of the work I do is as a "stretch" and not a "shrink." I help athletes expand their comfort zone and encourage them to take risks.

Don't let fear scare you. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Fear is often false evidence appearing real.

PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION

He didn't have to be perfect. Seek progress, not perfection, I told him.

Goals are dreams with time lines. Turn your vision into action with goal setting. Seek progress rather than perfection.

Your future and success depend upon many things, but mostly they depend upon you. You have the responsibility to shape your life. You are the person who pushes yourself forward or holds yourself back. The power to succeed or fail is yours alone.

Which voice do you hear? Which is louder, the negative critic or the positive coach? You can choose to listen to the voice that offers and reinforces positive thought.

It is Normal to have Chimp outbursts and activity that you will not manage well. Therefore, you should Expect this to happen from time to time. Accept that you are not perfect and this animal is very powerful. Take care of the outburst or activity by appropriate means, such as apologies if you have affected others, or by forgiving yourself if you feel you have let yourself down.

The most important thing a parent can give a child is a positive self-image.

Which voice do you hear? Which is louder, the negative critic or the positive coach? You can choose to listen to the voice that offers and reinforces positive thought. It has been said that thoughts become words. Words become actions. Actions become habits. Habits become character. Character becomes your destiny.

Fear lives in the future. These athletes live in the present—the here and now. Their participation is fun and rewarding.

Act as if you're going to have a great future? Set your goals. Do the work.

Pervasiveness. Unlike pessimists who let their doubts and troubles affect every area of their lives, optimists are able to put their problems in a "box" and not let them distract them.

Doubts can be paralyzing. Confidence and trust are essential in every sport.

Athletes in the zone see everything with clarity. They are relaxed, they perform with a quiet mind, with no indecision and no doubts. They can almost anticipate what is going to happen. They are totally absorbed. Golfer Tony Jacklin likened the zone to being in a cocoon. Dave Winfield said, "I'm in my world.

Sports teach us how to persevere. How to deal with adversity. How to become part of a single heartbeat that defines a team. Sports teach lessons in leadership, respect, and courage.

Competitive sports can bring out the best in people. Instead of playing small, they overcome their self-doubts and fears. They let their light shine. They find courage, which is the opposite of discourage, and tap into their reservoir of potential. Reflect a moment. Can you remember a time when you were a hero, when you showed heart, courage, and fearlessness that maybe you didn't think you had?

Courage. A mentally tough athlete must be willing to take a risk. That's what peak performers do. In the book Adversity Quotient author Paul Stoltz compares success with a mountain. Only climbers get to the top. The campers, those who get part of the way up and decide to stay where they are, will never feel as alive or as proud as the climbers. As the philosopher said, it takes courage to grow up and to achieve your full potential.

Mentally tough athletes know how to stay focused and deal with adversity.

Fear keeps people from taking risks. And sometimes the greatest risk is not to take a risk.