Each person is unique based on our inherited biology and acquired experiences.  They give each player different perceptions from others involved with the same game in the same situation.  Although the players share a common purpose to win, the intensity with which it is felt varies between the individuals.  Different genes and different experiences yield different player attitudes in the same situation.  Our attitude is our state of mind as we approach and experience our lives. 

Turning Attitudes Positive
A player's attitude is always within their capability and responsibility to control.  Their attitude influences their appearance to others, the words they speak, the way they mentally and physically feel, and the actions they take.  Because of the extent to which it influences them, they must control it to their advantage to maximize their performance.

It's important to understand that an attitude is not really an emotion.  There are similarities, but attitudes are built primarily by thoughts, whereas emotions are built by feelings.  Thoughts give direction and control; emotions provide arousal and energy.  Emotions and feelings are what they are.  Attitude and thoughts must be channeled for positive performance results.  Any attitude leading to actions that keep the player from achieving a peak performance is a bad one.  Bad attitudes must be changed.

An attitude can change or be changed.  We are never stuck with an attitude we do not want. But we must control the change, so that it is a change for the better.  And if we have a good attitude in a good situation, we must know in advance that our attitude will have to battle whatever bad situations we meet or we and our attitude will be taken prisoner.

Optimistic Attitude
There is an illustration where two people are asked to describe the situation about a glass filled to the mid-point with water.  The optimist says it is half full while the pessimist says it is half empty.  The optimist's approach is what can be done with what they have versus the pessimist's approach focuses on what has been lost and the prospect of losing the rest.  Player's need to develop an optimistic attitude about what they can do with the time left in the game or the rest of the season.  The past is the past and cannot be changed, but the future is still unwritten and their attitude will effect what happens next.  You have heard the expression that competitive athletes need to develop a "short-term memory" to forget about the mistake that just happened.  It is the optimistic player's attitude that that can enable this as they turn their attention toward what can be done during the rest of the game.

A sensible optimist is inspired by an authentic positive attitude, which gives him vitality and hope when others lose their spirit and quit.  The foolish optimist cheerfully ignores a bad situation, pretending it is that bad and tolerating it.  Choosing not to deal with a bad situation is an attitude that is not genuinely positive.  In fact, it is our attitude that keeps us from reaching our peak performance and must be changed.

Changing Your Attitude
What does it take to change your attitude?  Here are 10 steps to playing with a positive controlled attitude:

1. Honestly evaluate your existing attitude
2. Understand why those attitudes were developed
3. Recognize the importance of changing their attitude
4. Be open to the prospect of change
5. Be enthusiastic about your daily sport and non-sport activities
6. Have fun at what you are doing and express a sense of humor
7. Have interest in others needs and difficulties by understanding their point of view
8. Be a good listener
9. Focus on the team and your individual goals
10. Keep yourself from criticizing others by first judging yourself

This series is titled the "mental game" because it about changing your mental approach to yourself, your sport, and your teammates.  Until you change the way you think and your attitudes by programming your mind to focus on what is about to happen next in a positive controlled fashion, you will not reach your potential.  Just the desire to improve your attitude is a sign that positive results will follow.  Once you see the results, you will want more.

A winning attitudes lead to that most important distinguishing quality: self-confidence.  Winning attitudes are not inherited they are acquired.  Every outstanding athlete has had it.  Confidence is a state of mind, not an emotion or feeling.  This topic will be discussed more in the next post.