Emphasize positive experiences
Mentally reliving success helps build confidence that success can be repeated. Remember achievements and use them to create a framework of self-confidence. “I know I can do it because I’ve done it before.”
Commit to the attitude
Only by making a serious and sincere determination to believe in an attitude can it be effective. Attitudes are not about lip service; they demand dedication.
Visualize positive expectations
Sometimes a player needs to stop, shut his eyes, and see himself getting a hit off a tough pitch or pitcher; or a pitcher needs to see himself making a well-executed pitch. The more realistic the visualization, the more impact it will have.
Use self-talk to ingrain attitudes
The player speaks to himself with conviction and emotion until these attitudes become natural, ingrained in the subconscious mind. Understanding the situation and knowing yourself ill dictate the right emotional level for the task, and that level can be controlled by the speed and intensity of self-talk.
Commitment and repetitious affirmations of attitude
As with everything in athletics, attitudes demand practice and regular rededication. A player must reestablish his goals and renew his reasons for providing such intense dedication. The more these thoughts are repeated, the more ingrained they become. Discussing this with a friend or teammate will help affirm the attitude and hold the player accountable.
From "Mental Toughness: Baseball’s Winning Edge" by Karl Kuehl, John Kuehl, and Casey Tefertiller
