Pain Tolerance Skills are actually an extension of both the Physiological Relaxation Skills and the Cognitive Skills you learned earlier.

During training or competition, as pain from fatigue or excessive muscle activity occurs, you will perform the following steps:

1. Take a deep breath, hold it and exhale while silently saying the word "RELAX" to yourself.
2. Execute the following self statement list:
   1. My body is beginning to respond.
   2. It feels good.
   3. Breath deeply and say "RELAX" to yourself.
   4. I am getting stronger, better.
   5. I am in control.
   6. I will continue.

If you are able to understand that pain only exists in your head and that you are in control of your response to it, then pain as a result of training or competition can actually become a pleasurable and highly desirable sensation. With pain comes another opportunity to build the body, the brain and performance.