Instructing athletes to pay attention to their self-talk during training is an example of increasing what?

Instructing athletes to pay attention to their self-talk during training is fundamentally about enhancing their awareness of their internal dialogue and how it influences their performance. Self-talk can significantly affect an athlete's mindset, motivation, and ultimately their outcomes in competition and training. By becoming more aware of their thoughts, athletes can identify negative or counterproductive self-talk patterns which they may need to alter to improve their performance.

This focus on awareness allows athletes to cultivate a more positive and constructive internal environment. By recognizing their thoughts, they can consciously choose to replace negative self-talk with affirmations or motivational phrases, thus fostering a more supportive mental state. Increased awareness also enables athletes to better understand their emotional responses to stressors and challenges in their sport, leading to more informed strategies for improvement.