High performance psychology can help lawyers to learn from failure

Believing in failure is the first premise of high performance psychology.

High performance psychology is based on the individual’s mental map – how thinking is organised.

A positive mental map is demonstrated by Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb. It‘s said that he tried 9,999 times to create a working light bulb. When asked why he continued after failing so many times, Edison replied: “I’ve only learned 9,999 ways that don’t work”.

The great golf champion Gary Player was once asked: “You sure are lucky aren’t you?” To which he replied: “You’re right, I am lucky. And the funny thing is, the more I practise the luckier I get!”

We gain ongoing learning from failure. We need to constantly set goals or, more importantly, to identify the process of achieving those goals. It’s important to be prepared to take one step further, to continually learn from our mistakes. By paying attention to the paths we tread, we continually learn from what works and what doesn’t.

High performance sports psychology is all about mental preparation and setting goals.

The first step is to identify what drives you: what are your values, what really interests you, what are you passionate about? Then you can set specific, well-formed goals.

Setting goals

1.       State your goal in positive, active terms.

2.       Where are you now in relation to your goal?

3.       When you achieve your goal, what will you experience?

What will it feel, look and sound like?

Can you visualise it, is it compelling?

Describe the goal as you see yourself achieving it in the future.         

4.       How will you know when you have achieved your goal?

          What will you feel like, what will it look like?

5.       What will you be able to do once you’ve achieved your goal?

What will change?

6.       What steps do you need to take to achieve this goal?

Write them down and put specific timings to them.

7.       Who else is involved in achieving this goal with you?

What is important to them in achieving this goal?

How can they help you to achieve it?

          Where, when, how and with whom do you want this goal?

8.       What resources or skills do you need to achieve this goal?

What resources do you already have (physical, mental, psychological) that will help you to achieve your goal?

How did you achieve a similar goal before?         

9.       Why do you want this goal?

What will you gain or lose once you achieve it?

          What will happen if you get it?

          What will happen if you achieve it?

          What won’t happen if you don’t achieve it?