Control the Message: Turning Around Negative Self-Talk

Baseball and softball are games built on failure. A great hitter fails seven times out of ten. It is normal to have negative thoughts, and they can even be valuable when they help you identify a pitch you can't handle or a situation to avoid. Negative thoughts become a problem when they take your focus off your target and your intent.

Keys to turning around negative self-talk

1. Become aware.
2. Notice patterns.
3. Control the message.

Build awareness

During your next game, keep a simple log in the dugout. After each at-bat or inning, write a plus sign for positive thoughts and a minus sign for negative thoughts. Do you notice patterns? Does your self-talk change after a strikeout? After a walk? After an error behind you?

Control the message

The goal of self-talk is to control the message no matter how you are playing. If you notice a pattern, create a plan. Before the game, write your message on your wristband, cap, or glove. If you tend to dwell on your last at-bat, write "next pitch" to bring your thoughts back to the present.