Mental Moment-Doing the Work
Although my clients are generally motivated, it is not easy to ‘do the work’ that clients need to do when they work with me. Some of them have been Elite Performers for many years and although they’ve come to the realization that the mental side of their performance needs to be enhanced they are still not always sure why and struggle to make a real connection to it. For many, they’ve tried everything else humanly possibly and I am their last call.
Initial assessment
Regardless this is important information that I need to assess in the initial meeting. I want to have a good sense of what a client’s motivation is in order to figure out the best way to move forward. Sometimes I need to work with the clients lack of understanding leading to low motivation to make change (even though they want change) before I can really get to the heart of what is getting in the way of their performance. I generally try to assess and move through this quite quickly so that the client can then move into what’s most important to them; their performance.
Doing the work
As we move into the initial stages of this I like to make connections relatively soon so that clients have a more clear picture of what’s happening and why, a takeaway or a light bulb moment, and then the work begins. This work is a collaboration and it really takes both of us. You wouldn’t ask someone to run, play, act out a scene or paint for you; just as I can’t do the mental work for you (time management, goal setting, awareness, positive self talk, developing confidence, dealing with anxiety, etc). Unfortunately being an best Elite Performer takes both. Similar to when you don’t practice, rehearse or put time into your performance, if you aren’t willing to put time into developing and practicing a mental plan, it won’t be effective and things won’t change.
Seeing the change
Most of my clients do the work and then they see the positive results. When clients don’t see change, many times it’s because they aren’t doing the work. They aren’t creating awareness. They aren’t going through the routines that have worked for them. They aren’t using their imagery. They’ve developed a plan for change which is working but stop using it.
Getting used to mental and emotional change initially takes time and energy. It will become more involuntary and more the norm as you practice using it. The results generally speak for themselves.
Happy Thursday!
Dr. Michelle
Photo credit: skinnyemmie.com
