Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest professional boxers in the sport’s history once said, “To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are.”

Mental training is the key for success in life. You have to be mentally tough to be a champion in your personal life. You need the mental attitude saying, “I want to.”

To be mentally tough involves specific proven techniques such as, setting goals, believing in yourself, improving your concentration, using imagery, overcoming obstacles and conquering anxiety.

Each one of these techniques is strongly based on science. If you incorporate all of them into your life, you will empower yourself beyond your wildest dreams.

The most powerful tool you have is your mind. When your mind is undisciplined, it can be very damaging to you, but when you discipline your mind, it can develop unlimited power.

The book of James in the Bible, Chapter 1 says, “a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” Too often we are crippled by analysis paralysis. We need to move away from the analytical side of our brain and learn how to use our mind in ways that will allow us to reach our full potential.

Here are some tools to enhance your personal performance:

 1. Posture. Your posture  is a direct link to the brain, and it can dramatically influence your self-esteem and your performance. How you stand, and how you present yourself, can instantly transform your self confidence and how others respond to you.

 2. Power talk. Research shows that positive self talk can make you more confident and focused.

3. Visualization. Use all your senses to create vivid images that can prepare you to train and perform at your highest level. Use the “flash back” technique to recreate vivid pictures of past success. Embrace those feelings of accomplishments – the sights, sounds, emotions, and thoughts, and allow them to prepare you for future achievements.

4. Action. If you are serious about improving your life you need to do more than hope or wish. The difference between your dreams remaining a fantasy, or becoming real, is your resiliency, your consistency, perseverance, and your commitment to action. That internal energy creates the enthusiasm that keeps you working toward your personal goals.

5. Make goals. To remain positive, and confident, think about your goals all the time. You won’t give up when things don’t go right the first time; you will go back and do it again. If you can’t go through the obstacles ahead, you will go around them. If you can’t go around them, you will go over them, and if you can’t go over them, you will go under them.

6. Be creative and experiment. Rather than thinking about quitting, say to yourself, “I don’t like the results I am getting, so what do I need to do differently?” Remember that we reap what we sow. If you don’t like what you are reaping, it is time to sow something new.

7. Realize your limitations are only temporary. Often our limitations are self-imposed. If you find yourself trapped, or stuck, your best ally is your passion, your determination, your attitude, and self motivation that will separate you from the rest.

Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said, “What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight — it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

Once you stretch your mind with a new idea, it can never go back to its original dimension.

Dr. Josefina Monasterio is a certified life coach,  fitness expert, and nutritional counselor based in Vero Beach, Florida. She holds a PhD in Adult Personal Development from Nova University and a Master’s Degree in Education from Boston University. Dr. Josefina is also a certified Yoga Therapist from the World Yoga Society of Calcutta, India, and host of Healthy Power TV’s “The Dr. Josefina Way.”