Michael Jordan on Mental Training

Here are two clips of Michael Jordan discussing his mental approach to competition. The video quality on the first clip is not very good, but what he says is very insightful. He is answering a question about whether he was more proud of his physical skills or mental skills throughout his career, and he answered by talking about how proud he was of his mental approach to basketball. He says that mental skills are "what seperate the great players from the good players".



In the second clip he talks about his mental approach and how he prepared mentally for a game. I show this clip to you guys not necessarily because I think you should copy him exactly, but to show you how deeply he understands his own mental approach. Athletes who are mentally tough have a very deep understanding of themselves and their own mental approach. How well do you know yourself and your own mental approach? As we work this year, one of your goals should be to become more aware of your own mental skills and your own mental approach.