Myth No.1: Lack of Time
Let's look at each reason, beginning with "lack of time." To be most effective, PST should be part of your regular daily practice and/or game routine, not necessarily separate from or in addition to your normal sport activities.
Start applying goal-setting to your daily training schedule, or practice positive self-talk as you play. In this way, rather than adding another team meeting into an already hectic day, you can incorporate mental practice into the arena where you will need to use it most...on the court, field, pool, arena, etc.
As you become more proficient in practice, gradually you will begin to apply and utilize these same performance enhancement techniques into games, matches and actual competition. Just as physical skills are first practiced in a controlled environment in order to sharpen and automate performance, the same principle should be followed for PST: simple to complex, less demanding to more demanding.
Myth No.2: Lack of Knowledge
The second concern people have is acquiring the proper knowledge base. Well, if you're reading this article then you are already on your way in developing the requisite knowledge and skill.
There are excellent books and journal articles available concerning mental training for sport. Whether you compete in golf, soccer, baseball, basketball or any other, much has been written on how to get the competitive edge and how to use it to your best advantage.
Attend clinics, listen to respected athletes and coaches discuss their techniques at conferences or workshops and by all means, keep reading sites like this one.
Myth No.3: Lack of Skill
The final two excuses could best be explained by reminding yourself that mental skills are just like physical skills, they respond best to practice and repetition. All of us are born with varying levels of a host of qualities from mental toughness, to competitive drive to perseverance after failure.
No matter how much or little you possess of any one characteristic, almost all psychological skills respond positively to sustained and appropriately-focused efforts at improvement.
Years ago, few athletes sought professional advice on personal training and fitness and yet today, that practice is commonplace. Years ago, few people understood the role that diet played in enhancing peak performance in sport.
Science, research and technology have made incredible advances in our understanding of what psychological skills are best targeted to enhance performance and what principles to utilize to see those positive results.