Neuroscience is the study of the nervous system.  Neuroscientists have proven that our brains can continue to change throughout our lives.  The ability for the brain to change (create new neural pathways) is called neuroplasticity.  We create new neural pathways as we learn new emotions and behaviors.  Repeated use of new emotional and behavioral neural pathways cause myelination to occur.  Myelination is the process of strengthening a new neural pathway by insulating it (analogous to electrical wire wrapped in a protective coating).  Highly myelinated neural pathways are stronger, more secure, more efficient, and up to 300 times faster ¹¹ (equate to cars versus airplanes).  The brain then prioritizes these highly optimized emotional and behavioral neural pathways as defaults (i.e. muscle memory in athletes).  One important item to note is that the myelination processes reverses when neural pathways are not used regularly. 

Now let’s take a look at how the myelination process can be applied to your alter ego.  You have put the time and energy into designing an alter ego with very specific emotions and behaviors (thoughts, feelings, and actions) to accomplish your season results.  You are able to initially develop neural pathways for these specific emotions and behaviors by simply learning and using them.  However, practice and repetition are required in order to supercharge these neural pathways with the myelination process.  Additionally, you need to regularly and consistently practice these neural pathways with intentionality so they become your default emotions and behaviors during competition.  Remember, without regular and consistent practice to sustain their myelinated status, these neural pathways revert back to being weaker and less prioritized.  Bottom line, relentless practice is the only way to develop and maintain a myelinated alter ego mindset.  One that is powerful enough to unleash your potential and deeply ingrained for consistent peak performance.  The remaining chapters of this section focus on ways in which to effectively learn how to use and practice your alter ego and its emotional and behavioral neural pathways so you can master the mental game. 

Tips

1. Commit to training your brain as frequently as you practice your sport.
2. The mind is like a muscle and is either being used and getting stronger or being ignored and becoming weaker. There is no middle ground so I suggest getting to work. 
3. Quality is of the utmost importance so make sure to stay focused as you practice your alter ego.
4. Quantity will be a key factor in your progress so be sure to put in the time and effort.
5. Practice, practice, practice…..and let myelination work its magic!
6. The following terms are used interchangeably throughout this section:
   • Brain, Mental, Mental Game, Mind, and Mindset.
   • Practice, Session, Train, Training, and Workout.