Darrin Donnelly
Mar 12, 2026
“The real test in life, as in golf, is not in keeping out of the rough but in getting out after we’ve hit one in the tall grass. Championships, in games and in life, are won by those who have learned to cope with adversity.”
– OG MANDINO
I want to thank everyone who has already picked up a copy of my new book, THE MENTAL SHIFT, and especially those who have already posted the first five-star reviews about the book. (See what initial readers are saying about THE MENTAL SHIFT here.)
I can’t thank you all enough for your support!
For those of you who have not yet read THE MENTAL SHIFT, what follows is the book’s introduction. This gives more insight into what the book is about and reveals why I think this just may be the most impactful book I have ever written…
We’ve all been there.
You’re cruising through life. You’re feeling good, working hard, and staying positive. You’re on a winning streak, hitting nothing but fairways and greens. It seems like everything is going your way. You’ve got it all figured out.
Then, you suddenly get blindsided by adversity. [continue reading…]
Darrin Donnelly
Feb 27, 2026
I’m excited to announce that the latest book in the Sports for the Soul series is available now!
It’s called, The Mental Shift: Control Your Thoughts, Control Your Destiny, and I can’t wait to hear what you think of it!
WHAT IS THIS BOOK ABOUT?
Sometimes in life, you can be doing everything right—working hard, staying positive, feeling confident—when suddenly something happens that knocks you off course. [continue reading…]
Darrin Donnelly
Jan 5, 2026
“The only things that are going to change you from where you are today and where you are going to be five years from now are the people you meet and the books you read.”
– Lou Holtz, 2-Time National Coach of the Year
As a new year begins, it’s important to remember that you have the power to decide what your future will look like.
What you fill your mind with today determines the person you become tomorrow.
If you fill your mind with positive and motivational material, you’ll become a more positive and motivated person. On the other hand, if you fill your mind with negative and cynical material, that’s the type of person you will become.
Like everything else in life, it comes down to a choice. YOU get to choose what you fill your mind with.
The most effective way to choose a more positive mindset is by choosing the right books to read. [continue reading…]
Darrin Donnelly
Nov 5, 2025
“Being disciplined in your approach to each day of your life and accomplishing the things you dream of starts by disciplining your thoughts. Focus on those things you want to occur, not those that you do not want to occur.”
– Tony Dungy, Super Bowl Champion Coach and Player
No matter what you’re going through right now, you can quickly change the direction of your life by changing the thoughts you focus on most.
What you focus on most determines the direction of your life.
If you constantly focus on fears, doubts, and everything that can go wrong, you will find a lot more things going wrong.
If you focus on goals that excite you, reasons you can succeed, and everything that can go right, you will find a lot more things going right.
This happens because whatever you go looking for, you are more likely to find.
The person actively focused on solutions and opportunities will find them.
The person focused on problems and obstacles will find those.
It becomes a self-fulfilling cycle.
Always remember this: Your life will move in the direction of your most dominant thoughts.
[continue reading…]
Darrin Donnelly
Oct 30, 2025
“Having faith means placing your trust in something much bigger than yourself. Faith is the bedrock of a winner.”
– Jim Tressel, 5-Time National Champion Football Coach
High achievers often talk about the importance of having faith, but what does it really mean to “have faith?”
I’ve heard it said that the words faith and trust can usually be used interchangeably.
While that might sound like a minor linguistic clarification to some, to me it illuminates what it means to have faith.
Having faith can sound passive, like you’re waiting on something to be given to you.
On the other hand, choosing to trust requires taking an active role. It means you must make the decision to believe.
When you trust someone, you’ve determined they are reliable. You choose to believe you can rely on their help, support, and guidance. You believe they will follow through on what they say.
Trust is almost always a two-way street. You trust that if you do your part, you can count on them to do theirs; and they expect the same from you.
Trust is the crucial component of any healthy relationship. It applies to family, friends, businesses, teams, and your relationship with God.
There are times when it’s hard to have faith. [continue reading…]
Darrin Donnelly
Oct 22, 2025
“If you are determined enough and willing to pay the price, you can get it done.”
– Mike Ditka, Super Bowl Champion Coach and Player
There is a price that must be paid for any worthwhile goal.
Achieving anything difficult requires sacrifice, discipline, and determination. On the road to success, a strong work ethic is not optional. Everyone knows this.
But I believe the biggest single obstacle to succeeding at a high level—that is, the biggest price that must be paid—is the willingness to persevere through the ups and downs of life.
Whatever it is you’re striving to achieve, your mental toughness will be tested along the way.
There will be times when you wonder if it’s worth the effort.
There will be times when the grass looks greener chasing some other goal.
There will be times when it feels like you’ve lost your momentum and you wonder if you can ever get it back. [continue reading…]
