We all participate in negative thought breeding at varying degrees. Many of us trudge through the muck of negativity without a clue of how to get into the positive. It starts here. Negativity breeds negativity, positivity breeds positivity. Many players place playing consistently as a goal, yet thinking consistently is just as elusive. This is evident when you miss an easy shot that you believe was well within your capabilities. If you allow it to bother you, you will lose your mental focus and concentration. The consistent use of positive affirmations during your time at the table can prevent this from happening. The champions in pool leave mistakes in the past. They forget the mistakes quickly and move on. They remain focused on what is in front of them. They do not remain wrapped up in judgment and anger from the shot they missed five minutes ago. They move on and remain focused on winning the match. Positive thoughts strengthen the energy system and increase the power of your mind and your body. Negative thinking drains your physical energy and impairs your performance.
Direct yourself towards the positive without arguing with yourself about the mistakes you’ve made. Breathing techniques, and “centering” are key tools to combat the onset of choking. Think of your concentration as a signal center or communication satellite that that serves as an information-processing center for your mind and body. Your concentration uses your focus like a radio dial to pick up certain channels. Your focus fixes on the situation at hand and searches for the right channel. The satellite receives the correct messages to feed back to the brain, which gives the correct messages to the muscles involved in the motor functions required to complete the task. Choking occurs when focus fails to receive messages, or picks up nothing but static when it attempts to tune in to the proper channel. The reception path is blocking the signals and a communication breakdown occurs. Doubt is the number one blocker of positive thought. The player then enters the altered state of consciousness, called “choking”. This means that brain starts receiving static communication entirely, or incomplete messages. The focus continues to search for the channels, but the reception has been blocked by either negative thinking, or a meltdown of the nervous system (nerves). After a while, the entire system crashes, and this leads to choking, anger, frustration, and bitterness.
Centering
Centering will help you in reestablishing communication with that satellite (your focus) and your techniques will assist you in removing whatever was blocking or interfering with the satellite’s communication. Centering techniques are simple, easily affordable, and yet priceless in competition. Remaining calm is of the utmost importance. Many players get angry, upset, and disappointed when they lose communication between the mind and body. This is evident in facial expressions, body language, and the overall balance of the player when he or she is in their stance. The first thing to change is the breathing. The second thing that goes is balance (or stature; sulking shoulders, head drooping forward, looking down to the floor). These things “lead” to a loss of focus or concentration, they are not the result. The results are the emotions, the missed shot, coming up short or long on position, losing the game or match, etc. Understanding this is very important. Many players try to reapply their focus towards the results, and not what caused the results. It reminds me of the story of the old cowboy that shot a hole in his water bucket. The water is coming out of the hole, and the cowboy turns to his buddy and says, “What am I going to do about this?”
To which the other cowboy responds “Stick a bullet in the hole. That’ll keep the water from pouring out.”
The cowboy’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. “You’re right! I’ll try that.”
The other cowboy says, “Here, want one of my bullets?”
“No, I have my own.” He thanks his buddy, places the bucket of water on the ground, draws his gun, and shoots another bullet into the bucket.
This might seem silly, but we have all done this while playing pool. We have the right idea, the right tools, but lack the good sense to get the job done right.
