Recently, we posted an article by author and coach Don McGrath about the potentially negative effects of too much positive thinking.  To follow up on this topic, here’s another article by Don McGrath about the role positivity and positive thinking plays in climbing performance.

“So, what does this have to do with climbing. Well, we can use this information to create a mindset with the right dose of optimism that leads to optimal performance and can have us climbing and staying psyched about climbing for as long as possible.” – Don McGrath

In this follow up article, McGrath explores deeper into the relationship between positivity and performance.  In doing so, he first describes the findings of several major scientific studies on the subject and then shows how these findings can be used to improve climbing performance.

Tips for Productive Positivity in Climbing

1. Practice interrogative self-talk.
2. Understand and monitor your positivity ratio.
3. Work on your explanatory style.
4. Recognize when you truly mess up.

Ultimately, all of the these tips are about ways to better balance being positive and maintaining an optimistic approach with the reality of your current situation.  By doing so, you don’t sabotage yourself with negative self-talk and emotions, but you also don’t drown out the stimuli required for improvement that reality and your failures provides.

Click through below to read the full article and learn more about the above tips.  Fine tuning your mental approach in this way takes some serious introspection and hard work.  However, finding the kind of balance McGrath is talking about is a great way to improve your climbing performance all while enjoying it more.  Give it a read!

Full Article: Don McGrath – Positivity Part II

(photo courtesy of Stephanie Hsie | @mineralpursuits)

Other Articles You Might Like:

• Don McGrath – Too Much Positive Thinking?
• Vertical Mind Book Review by Dave Sheldon
• Plateauing on Your Climbing Project? – Mental Tactics
• Mental Training, 3 Simple Mantras