The Power of Positive Thinking

How your mind can help you improve in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

Some time ago I was doing my standard pre-game routine. I went on a deathmatch server, picked up an AK-47 and started doing my thing. Fortunately for me I was horrible. I say I was fortunate, because it made me think. How could it be that on some days I hit almost all my shots and make good decisions but on some days I cannot seem to do anything the way I want? Do you recognize this phenomenon?

For years I had been aware of the fact that if I firmly believe I will make my shot when I move around a corner, I am actually more likely to succeed in doing so than if I think that my opponent is much faster or aim better than I do.

Based on over a decade of trying, I know how difficult — not to say impossible — it is, for me at least, to just start believing in myself out of the blue. I know that some people are able to be confident and remain focused even when their team fall behind and nothing seem to go their way, but for those of us who can’t do that there is still hope.

I sat there, on that server, watching my stats getting worse by the minute when all of a sudden I remembered something. A couple of years ago a friend of mine who does not play Counter-Strike: Global Offensive told me about a lecture he had seen by a mental coach who had been working with female Swedish golfers.

He had noticed how every time they misplaced a shot during practice they had this habit of cursing themselves, but when they managed to hit their target they did not react at all since that was what they were expected to do. In order to break this pattern he had them clench their fists and celebrate every time they did well.

If you think about it for a second, it is much like Pavlov’s dogs that began to salivate as soon as he entered the room — because they knew he would bring food. So they actually had a physical response from just expecting something.

With this in mind — and after I had made sure there were no other people in my apartment — I started to cheer every time I killed an opponent and told myself — out loud — that I am great, that I aim like a god and things like that. At first it felt uncomfortable and embarrassing, but once I had been doing it for a couple of minutes, I noticed how I played at the very top of my ability. I felt confident again.

Now I have incorporated this into my daily deathmatch routine and every time I sit down to play I expect to get all those positive emotions that I get from telling myself how good I am while I watch my enemies fall.

I suggest that you try this yourself. Release your inner dog and go get that piece of meat that is waiting just around the corner!