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The global swimming star demonstrated this renewed vigour at the Fina World Championships in Kazan, Russia in August where he claimed two silver medals.
“I was very happy with the two silvers because it wasn’t as if I won them with bad times, they were really good times and it could easily have been two golds,” Van der Burgh told Sport24.
“I am happy with my times and I do feel I am getting into the shape of my life just because of my mind-set.”
Van der Burgh and British swimming sensation Adam Peaty lit up the championships with their enthralling tussle in the 50m and 100m breaststroke events.
Peaty eventually came out on top with gold medals in both events and a world record in the 50m to boot.
Before the Briton posted a record time of 26.42 in the 50m, Van der Burgh had improved his 50m breaststroke world mark by 0.05 in the heats.
Van der Burgh admits he did not have the right attitude ahead of the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games where he won the 50m breaststroke gold medal, while finishing second to Peaty in the 100m event.
“I am almost in the same shape as last year going into the Commonwealth Games and I was so confident going in, but my mind-set was wrong,” he said.
“This year with changing that up and learning a few different tricks, the change has been unbelievable.”
Van der Burgh continued his sizzling form in the pool during the first two galas in the eight-leg Fina World Cup series and also added the double gold at the Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo.
The 27-year-old did the "double" in the World Cup openers, winning four gold medals in the 50m and 100m breaststroke which earned him a cool $56 000 in winnings and 96 points in total.
Before the start of the series Van der Burgh initially only planned on doing a few of the legs, but will now be looking to claim the overall title for the third time.
The Pretoria swimmer won the Swimming World Cup Series in 2008 and 2009, and could keep the title in South African hands after Chad le Clos was crowned overall winner in 2014.
“You can just see when someone loves something it comes so natural for them, and like before you wouldn’t want to travel after the World Champs because you have been away for so long,” Van der Burgh said.
“But for me it was awesome and I couldn’t wait to get to another competition. I am enjoying my swimming more than I have my entire life.”
The next leg of the World Cup series will take place in Hong Kong on September 25-26.
