HEA7
04-12-2011, 12:32 PM
The Mental Game
Ever feel like that on some days you're on fire, hitting every shot you take, but on others you just can't hit the broad side of a barn? Well, in a single Halo game, I switch back and forth from these mindsets at least ten times. What really affects my playing more than anything else, is my mental game. A few months ago, I realized that I started to make lists about what "makes me play poorly" on a regular basis. Some items on that list were feeling bloated, listening to music, playing early in the morning, and being angry at a teammate. I tore up this list today. Setting limits on yourself is probably one of the dumbest things you can do as a competitive player. It's the same philosophy of never saying “I can't”. The mind is a powerful thing, if you truly believe you are incapable of doing something, then most likely you wont be able to accomplish it.
Like many other gamers, I have been diagnosed with ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactive disorder. Basically, my mind races between thoughts so quickly that I have a hard time keeping focus on any one item. Unfortunately, Ridilin and other medications caused me to go into a depression as I felt like I was taking everything too serious. I started being mean to friends, and I lost interest in prior hobbies. Eventually I just stopped taking the medication and tried to just go through my academics by slapping myself whenever I feel myself drifting away.
After talking to different pros, both old and new to the circuit, the one piece of advice I found helpful came from P Tizype, the winner of the most recent Bic Flex 4 FFA. P Tizype didn't necessarily say anything different from other pros, but he stated the obvious solution in a succinct manner “Just Focus”. The first thing I thought of was Ogre 2's brilliant advice of “Don't Suck”. The blantantness of the statement irritated me at first. I couldn't figure out why a pro player would offer such simplistic advice. But then I sat back to think about all the implications behind the word 'Focus'. Celebrating after an overkill, is not keeping focus as complaining after a death is not keeping focus. In a way I realized this before I started to really think about it. I play best when I am in “zombie mode”. I just play for the sake of playing and so nothing in the game affects my attitude.
I am truly jealous of the players that are able to separate themselves from the game. The players who are able to not take anything too seriously, the ones that don't care if they get blained by a camper, the ones that just focus on the next life. Hopefully I have taken that first step into the type of player who can control his mental game.
-Hea7
Ever feel like that on some days you're on fire, hitting every shot you take, but on others you just can't hit the broad side of a barn? Well, in a single Halo game, I switch back and forth from these mindsets at least ten times. What really affects my playing more than anything else, is my mental game. A few months ago, I realized that I started to make lists about what "makes me play poorly" on a regular basis. Some items on that list were feeling bloated, listening to music, playing early in the morning, and being angry at a teammate. I tore up this list today. Setting limits on yourself is probably one of the dumbest things you can do as a competitive player. It's the same philosophy of never saying “I can't”. The mind is a powerful thing, if you truly believe you are incapable of doing something, then most likely you wont be able to accomplish it.
Like many other gamers, I have been diagnosed with ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactive disorder. Basically, my mind races between thoughts so quickly that I have a hard time keeping focus on any one item. Unfortunately, Ridilin and other medications caused me to go into a depression as I felt like I was taking everything too serious. I started being mean to friends, and I lost interest in prior hobbies. Eventually I just stopped taking the medication and tried to just go through my academics by slapping myself whenever I feel myself drifting away.
After talking to different pros, both old and new to the circuit, the one piece of advice I found helpful came from P Tizype, the winner of the most recent Bic Flex 4 FFA. P Tizype didn't necessarily say anything different from other pros, but he stated the obvious solution in a succinct manner “Just Focus”. The first thing I thought of was Ogre 2's brilliant advice of “Don't Suck”. The blantantness of the statement irritated me at first. I couldn't figure out why a pro player would offer such simplistic advice. But then I sat back to think about all the implications behind the word 'Focus'. Celebrating after an overkill, is not keeping focus as complaining after a death is not keeping focus. In a way I realized this before I started to really think about it. I play best when I am in “zombie mode”. I just play for the sake of playing and so nothing in the game affects my attitude.
I am truly jealous of the players that are able to separate themselves from the game. The players who are able to not take anything too seriously, the ones that don't care if they get blained by a camper, the ones that just focus on the next life. Hopefully I have taken that first step into the type of player who can control his mental game.
-Hea7