One of the greatest sport psychology minds in the world and one of my mentors, Dr. Keith Henschen, believes that the ability to play forward is an important skill that distinguishes elite performers. To play forward means that you are focused on what is happening in the present and one or two moves in the future. It is learning not to dwell on mistakes or errors during competition. There will be plenty of time to analyze errors following the competition, and this is a necessary step in the process of performance excellence. Yet at the time of competition all that matters is getting out your best at the next opportunity.
How often has your performance spiraled downward because you were caught dwelling on one mistake?
Practice playing forward and see if you can become more resilient at staying focused on the task at hand.