Did you know our unconscious mind makes up a huge 95% of our mind? Being the majority shareholder, the unconscious mind will determine the results you get. Conflict often occurs when you consciously think you want something and your unconscious mind has other ideas – mainly because of its past programming based on the experiences you have had through-out your life.

That is why sometimes you may have been motivated to strive for a new goal, small or big, and find yourself almost battling yourself and even self sabotaging. I know I have in the past. It’s because the conscious mind decides on the goal, but the unconscious mind doesn’t believe in it, or one is focusing on the wrong things to get that goal.

Perhaps you feel some kind of inner conflict – like part of me wants this really bad, but part of me doesn’t for whatever reason - it’s too hard, it’s scary, it means I don’t get that other thing I want. Perhaps you want to be an Olympian but part of you also wants to have a good time!!

It is important to consider where you are focusing your attention and energy? What sort of pictures are you producing in your mind when you think about your goals? What sort of feelings do you get?

Are you getting a clear and brilliant picture of what is you really really want? You see our unconscious mind responds to all the pictures and feelings we get whenever we are thinking. Bearing this in mind, then it definitely helps to think positive thoughts, to put these positive pictures, sounds and feelings into our mindset. The mind does not understand the word ‘not’ or ‘don’t’ and only hears what comes after the negative word. When you think about playing sport or achieving results in other aspects of your life, are you thinking about winning? Or are you thinking about not losing – and hence considering the possibility of losing?

Who has ever told themselves "I hope I don’t stuff it up!!"? A key to creating better results in all areas of your life is to start thinking about what you do want, and how you want to show up, how you want to be.

If you are generally motivated by fear, or what you don’t want, it is very difficult to get long lasting change.

So it makes sense to focus positively towards what you want – to create positive pictures in your mind, and to have the right motivation to drive you forward and consistently to your end goal.

Focus can be applied moment by moment, daily and in short and long-term goals.

When challenges arise, become aware of where your focus is. Are you focused on the problem, on what is wrong? It can be more empowering focusing the solution, on what is right, and what can be learnt from a situation. By being continually aware of your own thought processes you can begin to be pro-active in where your attention is directed.

Imagine yourself at training and you’re feeling a little sore, perhaps a bit tired or perhaps you’ve made a few mistakes. If these events take your focus, then you are unable to direct your attention to the important things. A champion has the ability to focus on what they want and on the important things that will lead to improvement and to results.

In the long term, a champion has the ability to maintain focus on the end goal. Distractions may come in different opportunities and the true champion will persist and continue on until that goal is achieved. When you start honing your focus you will be amazed at what you can achieve. Think about what it is your really want and commit to it to create the opportunities that will assure its fulfillment.