Most Athletes Are Focused on the Wrong Thing
Ask any athlete what they don’t want, and they’ll give you a list:
- “I don’t want to choke.”
- “I don’t want to mess up the serve.”
- “I don’t want to let the team down.”
And that’s the problem.
Most athletes are walking into training, competition, and big moments with their mental focus locked on what they want to avoid.
That kind of thinking doesn’t lead to peak performance.
It leads to tension, hesitation, and inconsistency.
In this article, I’ll show you why what you focus on shapes how you perform, and how to train your brain to focus on what matters.
The Mind Follows the Focus
Your unconscious mind doesn’t process negatives the way you think.
If I tell you, “Don’t think of a pink elephant,” what happens?
You immediately imagine one.
The same thing happens when you focus on not missing, not failing, or not getting it wrong.
“Don’t miss” becomes “miss” to your brain.
“Don’t screw up” becomes “screw up.”
This is why the language you use internally matters so much.
Your brain is taking your commands literally.
Away From vs. Toward Focus
In NLP, we talk about two types of motivation:
- Away From: Motivation driven by fear, pressure, or the desire to avoid something bad.
- Toward: Motivation driven by clarity, purpose, and the desire to create a specific outcome.
Most people operate from an Away From state without realizing it.
But here’s the problem:
- It’s reactive, not intentional.
- It creates anxiety, not alignment.
- It leads to inconsistency, not control.
When you shift to Toward motivation, you create:
- Calm focus
- Clear action steps
- A consistent mental framework to rely on
And that changes everything.
How to Catch a Misdirected Focus
One of the fastest ways to improve performance is to simply ask:
“What am I focused on right now?”
Then follow it with:
“Is that what I want to be focused on?”
You’ll be surprised how often the answer is no.
Here are a few signs you’re focused on the wrong thing:
- You’re mentally predicting worst-case scenarios
- You’re obsessing over other people’s opinions
- You’re replaying past mistakes instead of preparing future responses
Catch it. Interrupt it. Redirect it.
Reframe Your Self-Talk
Here’s a simple but powerful shift:
- Instead of: “Don’t miss the target.”
- Say: “Land the shot center-left.”
- Instead of: “Don’t mess up this meeting.”
- Say: “Deliver my 3 key points clearly.”
It’s not just semantics.
It’s neural programming.
The clearer and more specific your desired outcome is, the easier it becomes for your brain to lock in and your body to execute.
Practice “Want-Focused” Thinking
Training your focus is just like any other part of performance — it takes reps.
Here’s how to build the habit:
- Before a task or event, ask:
- What do I want to focus on?
- What does success look like today?
- During the task, use a reset cue when your focus drifts:
- Deep breath
- Visual anchor
- Phrase like “lock in” or “clear shot”
- After the task, reflect:
- Did I stay focused on what I wanted?
- When did I drift and why?
- What can I do next time to stay anchored?
Over time, this becomes your default operating system.
What Coaches and Leaders Need to Know
This skill isn’t just for athletes.
If you’re a coach, parent, or leader — you’re influencing focus every time you speak.
Saying “Don’t drop it” to an athlete is planting the exact seed you want them to avoid.
Instead:
- Say “Secure the ball.”
- Say “Finish through contact.”
- Say “Stay on your line.”
Your words become their mental programming. Choose wisely.
Final Thoughts: Focus Is Leadership
Focus is not just about attention.
It’s about direction.
And in performance, direction is everything.
The athletes and leaders who rise fastest aren’t always the most talented — they’re the most focused on what they want.
If you want to sharpen this skill and train your brain to stay calm, clear, and locked in when it counts, grab The Leadership Edge: Activate Your Influence, Accelerate Your Growth.
It’s a free guide that will walk you through the exact mental tools I use with top athletes and coaches to build unshakable focus from the inside out.
Be well
Dr. Adriana James