Negative thinking

Last night I was playing a match and I found my self playing really well. I was making lots of great shots and I had a lot of confidence in my game. Towards the end of the match my opponent started to catch up and I found myself saying things to myself that seem to kill my confidence. Negative thinking entered my mind for some reason. Most players don't even think about how much of an impact the way you think when you play pool can effect your game. I practice everyday positive affirmations and saying things to myself that make me feel good. Even during a match I remind myself that I am a great player and say positive things. Human nature is to doubt ourselves sometimes in life. But we also have the ability to over come doubt by being confident in ourselves and believing in our abilities.
If your playing pool competitively and you want to improve your game you need have fun playing and don't doubt yourself in certain situations. You might a long shot next and think to yourself "man thats a long shot" instead of saying that say " I can make this one" and shoot with confidence. Commit to the shot and don't be scared to miss. If you think positive about your game you'll find that your game will elevate to the next level. You'll be mentally strong. I hope in writing about what I'm going through with my pool playing experiences can help you and others become better pool players. I also am constantly learning about this game.

- Posted by John Ferguson