What if I told you there was a word that captures the frame of mind you need to be in to perform at your very best? When you internalize it, this is a word that leads to a mind that trusts your training and a body that executes without hesitation or doubt.

If you’re a golfer, you might already know what’s coming.

Commit.

Commit to the shot. Commit to the pitch. Commit to whatever task you are executing at the moment.

Understanding what it means to commit can be tricky, so it’s helpful to start with what it means to not commit. A lack of commitment means you have a tinge of doubt, you lack a vivid picture of what you’re trying to execute, and as a result you aren’t as aggressive and decisive with your execution. Your clubface wavers, the release of your pitch is slightly off, you are one degree off of where you need to be. And in sport, one degree can make all the difference.

So here are three ways you can be more committed, regardless of your sport/performance arena:

1) Be willing to miss

If the word commit has an opposite, it’s probably hesitate. And hesitation is born out of fear. So often in pressure situations, we let fear play an outsized role in our performance, and it leads to just the slightest bit of “what if?” in our execution. But if you accept the result of what you are about to do, good or bad, then you are much more likely to push fear aside and perform freely. Be willing to miss, and you will make a committed swing.

2) Be willing to back off and “reset”

In the event you step up to execute and still sense even the smallest bit of doubt or hesitation, you must be willing to back off, hit the internal reset button, and perform your routine again. This is especially helpful for those of you that play sports with natural breaks in the flow of play. But even in fast-paced sports like soccer, football, and basketball, there are opportunities to reset yourself. If you want to take this a step further, come up with a kinesthetic “trigger” to help you with the reset. For example, you could use the tugging of your jersey, the re-strapping of your glove, etc. This will make it more tangible and effective.

3) Your first commitment is to your process

Let’s apply this one to golf. Yes, you want to make a committed swing - but that swing is a byproduct of a well-executed process (pre-shot routine). Your first commitment is to executing a quality routine. Identify the elements of your sport/performance that are within your control, and design a process for these elements - this is what you commit to. (Hint: this one is really tough to do if you don’t have a process…)

So get out there and start training your commitment. I’d love to hear how it’s going for you, so don’t hesitate to reach out!