Personal Reflection

On 08/20/2017 at 1002 hours FTO Wheeler #4361 and I responded to St. Luke’s Hospital emergency room entrance, on 3555 Cesar Chavez St., regarding a women in a hospital gown trying to break the caller’s vehicle window with a brick. Officer Wheeler and I were in full police uniform driving a marked patrol unit when we responded.

An example of vivid imagery was when Bradley started winning the arm wrestling matches, and remembering winning is just not everything. “It was like a thrill I have experienced at my grandfather’s lake house in Louisiana, when I hooked my first big fish, Big Joe, but when my cousin saw the fish, he said, “that a keeper,” I realized I would be happier with the fish to be let go instead of grilling it” (pg. 162) Bradley compares Big Joe to arm wrestling in that Big Joe is a hard to catch and his father is hard to be beaten in arm wrestling. “Whenever you think that you have Big Joe, you cut the line and let the legend go on” (pg. 162). Another example of vivid imagery is “His arms have always protected me and my family, knowing they caught my mother whenever she fainted across the room and that they carried me, full grown, up and down the stairs when I had mononucleosis” (pg. 162). This quote is very descriptive in giving us primary examples of what it was like for his father’s arms to protect him and his mother from any harm, knowing that they were safe in his arm’s.

Research by Duda (2009) showed that football players who were taught imagery techniques learned new football techniques and performed athletically better than the control group with no intervention. Though the available studies on imagery may be limited, the results seem to indicate that there are benefits to using the intervention. Imagery does not take a lot of effort (compared to learning something like meditation) and can be applied anywhere, anytime. The ease of use mixed with the positive research results suggest that imagery is a practical intervention for athletes.

Wakefield, C, et al. (2009) suggest PETTLEP-derived imagery interventions have been shown to enhance technical skills in sport along with nursing (Wright, Hogard, Ellis, Smith, & Kelly, 2008) and used to improve strength performance (Wright & Smith, 2009; Wakefield & Smith, 2011).

This reflection will discuss personal diffidence and how it has influenced my academic studies, including my practice within placement settings. Gibbs reflective cycle (Gibbs, 1998) has been utilised as it illustrates a clear structure for the process of reflection. To conclude this reflection will draw together the themes which have emerged and highlight a clear action for future learning that will be used in order to enhance my future practice.

Always keep in mind that when you use Imagery, you put strong feelings into it and you believe in the power of your mind to transform you. Be persistent! No matter how many days or weeks you practice the Imagery, be patient and you will find a change in your behavior. If you encounter resistance to doing the Imagery remember that you are doing them to change thinking and behavior. Your mind knows the intent and it works because you want it to work. The exercise depends on your mindset, your belief in the process and the belief in yourself. Keep it up. You will be successful.

Even before I walk into the gym, I can hear grunting and weights slamming against the floor. As I walk over to the bench, in the air there is the smell of hard work, a combination of iron and sweat. The bench is covered with a layer of blue padding with slight tears starting to form from the constant use. I lie atop the bench and put my hands up and grip the barbell. Unracking the weight, the rough knurling begins digging into my hands, making my callouses even thicker. Drawing in a deep breath, I slowly lower my elbows and as the barbell follows, my chest begins to stretch out. Then, in one moment, tightening my triceps, shoulders, and chest, I press up the barbell as I blow out a constant stream of air while flexing my abs as hard as I can. I have become lost. Lost in the weights. I am no longer thinking about school, my problems, or emotions. I am completely focused on lifting the weight.

Rugby Analysis Coursework Position: Lock, Second Row Student Accessed: Ruan Kennard Candidate Number: 7101 Centre Number: 90306 Essential Skills: Handling When you are the ball carrier on the field, you need to keep your possession as well keeping the ball with you. Handling the ball is hard because of moving it around with your body to the number of scenarios that occur next to you. As the player you need to be able to handle the ball in any type of situation at any time, this requires a lot of focus and active thinking.

Smith et al. (2007) . undertook a study on the effects of the PETTLEP based imagery method compared against other more traditional methods (mental rehearsals, visualisation). Studies focusing on a hockey penalty flick and a gymnastics beam skill were carried out.

Mental practice proves to be beneficial when individuals of every skill level use it as a tool in preparation for the performance of a motor skill. From novice learners acquiring new skills to professional athletes visualizing the movement and allowing for maximum readiness going into a competition, mental imagery can provide an advantage when combined with physical practice. It can be used at various times including the learning phase and even during the completion itself. When an athlete visualizes how they will perform, it in a way sets them up for wither success or failure, depending on their anxiety levels and other factors. The articles above all point toward one common idea, the idea that when mental practice when combined along with physical practice, can benefit the results of the individual. The timing of the practice does not matter whether it be in the learning phase of new skill acquisition or prior to the performance of a well-learned skill, there can be

Mental practice and imagery can be used to familiarise athletes with the competition site, such as a football field; motivate athletes as it helps them go over their aims or goals for the game, such as beating an opponent or simply just scoring a goal; it helps them focus on positive outcomes rather than negative so that their strengths can outweigh their weaknesses and also refocus back on the game if the athlete is losing concentration, such as remembering their best performance; and imagery is also beneficial to assist with healing an injured or fatigued athlete when training is not

The use of mental skills in sports psychology can both benefit an athlete to motivate themselves and provide them with the self confidence to achieve although the use of these skills can also have a negative impact on the athlete. This review of literature includes two different types of mental skills that can be used to help an athlete in the rehabilitation process, one study to support the concept that athletes benefit from a range of mental skills use is Arvinen-Barrow et al. This study took place in 2015, found out that 71.6% of 1283 athletes indicated that they believed mental skills helped them to rehabilitate faster when using 3 types of mental skills (imagery,goal setting and positive self talk). On the other hand there are studies which argue against the positives of mental skills more specifically relaxation and imagery and one example is a study conducted by Francis, Andersen and Maley (2000). The results from this study backed up the idea that positive self talk and positive reinforcement from an external individual can help the rehabilitation process. However the athletes used in this study did not believe that other mental skills such as relaxation or imagery were particularly useful in the rehabilitation phase. Furthermore when athletes return to physical activity there are theories that they are often feared of the injury occurring again and may not give themselves the best chance to perform at their previous standards. The following examples of

AC/DC’s “Back in Black” blared over the weight room’s speakers as I first sized up a dull iron bar. Staring straight ahead at the blank white wall, time slowed down. I racked my brain trying to recall what I had seen the lifters around me do. Phil, our weight room coach, commanded me, “Get over the bar.” I inched closer to the weight, toes beneath the bar, and attempted to lift it first off the ground, and then up on top of my shoulders.

Visualization is a common term used to describe guided imagery or the process of forming images in our mind like pictures or moves, images recreating our best performances, and the way it feels to perform just the way we want it to. These images can be visual, kinesthetic- how our body feels, tactile-how it feels to the touch, auditory-how it sounds, even olfactory-what we smell. Using mind power we can call upon these images over and over, enhancing skill through repetition rehearsal. The mind and body can become more prepared to actually perform the skill, and can improve both physical and mental reactions in certain situations. The developing athletes, who make the fastest progress and who ultimately become their best, make extensive use of mental imagery. They use it daily, as a means of directing what will happen in training, and as a way of pre-experiencing their best competition performances. Mental imagery often starts out simply, as you think though your goals, your moves, and your desired competitive performances.

The writing I did this semester for Engl 110c has meant alot to me because I was able to pick a topic that has such a huge impact in my life. I was able to do the topic about Navy Wives, which has a huge impact on me. I recently became a navy wife a year ago and my life has changed drastically. I was able to share everything I wanted to about the life of a military wife through my writings, as well as share to my classmates about my topic. I really enjoyed creating my ePortfolio because I could come out of my shell and be me. I made a ePortfolio website that would be for military wives to read. I believe this website would be perfect for any military wife reading it. I was able to give tips and information on what it’s like to be a military wife, how to prepare for deployments and how to stay strong being a military wife.