Mindset Matters

Drawing from the principles of Self-Determination Theory, we uncover the importance of relatedness and its role in building confidence. The draft horses' ability to work together, train with one another, and rely on the support of their handlers highlight the crucial role of social connections in bolstering our self-belief.

Over the past 7 years, I have worked with high profile athletes who deal with adversity, difficulties, triumphs, and criticism. The darkside of being a famous/successful athlete is darker than you can even imagine. I am shocked at the ferocity of fans and observers.

In a world full of athletes that curse, overreact, and melt down in competition, it feels more and more like the ability to handle adversity or a loss is a super power. One’s ability to control his thoughts and his reactions, just may be the most efficient way to become great.

According to a study from Bellevue University in Nebraska, men give nicknames as a way of being affectionate without compromising masculinity. So, in other words, men can keep their man card by affectionately giving nicknames to other men.

We can literally turn any loss into a win by focusing on the bravery and the courage of the moment. Good parents, good coaches, and good leaders know this secret: If you place value on the bravery and the courage that it took to play under pressure, they will be more likely to do it again, and again, and again. And more times than not, fortune favors the brave and the courageous.

Be like field corn. Get up today and grow where you’re planted. You don’t need anyone’s permission to be great. And you certainly don’t have to wait for someone to bestow the title of greatness on you before you can perform. Just go and do it. Do it today. Do it for you. Do it for the sake of being great.

So what can we learn from a robbery, a pandemic, and an effort to get better? There are a few things we can learn. 1) The great one’s have a plan. They don’t have a “sorta”plan, they don’t have a “maybe” plan, and they certainly don’t have no plan. What is your plan? Every great individual, every great team, and every great organization that I know will go through some sort of adversity this year. And they have a plan for it. Many teams even have things written down for when things get emotional. Things like, who will shoot the penalty kick. Will we go for two points or not? Or, what is our game plan if we are up in the game with 4 minutes to go?

To heal faster use these 4 tools. 1) Take personal responsibility for your healing. 2) Use Creative Imagery 3) Have a great team around you. 4) Use positivity and optimism to your benefit.

3 ways to combat the Covid-19 Blues 1--Routines, win the morning! Win the evening (gratitude journal) 2--Be intentional and deliberate with the shows you watch, the items you put your energy into. 3--Noting. Using a psychological technique called noting to help you though some difficult times.

Sleep is the easiest way to increase performance in the short term. How much sleep do you get each night? How much do you think you should get? Listen to this episode for further insight.

You've heard of growth mindset and fixed mindset. But do you know how to cultivate it? Listen to this podcast for tips on how to develop your Growth mindset.

What if? Why? These two phrases are negative in nature. How do we change our language to reflect a positive attitude? This episode can help.

Perfectionism vs Healthy Striving. Do you know the difference? The great one's do.

Self Care is key to our success. As I am observing the NBA playoffs today, it seems that these guys are doing a great job of taking care of themselves mentally over the course of these 8 games plus the playoffs. What could you do to make your "bubble" experience better? The following episode offers tips to improve your mental and physical health

Change the phrase, "I'm so nervous" to "This is exciting!" Change the phrase "what if?" to "even if." Change the phrase "Why?" to the phrase "Why not?"

Self-deception, awareness, cognitive dissonance. In this episode we discuss how important it is to see things for what they are.

What is your desired outcome? What is your process to get there? The great one's understand that the daily processes are more important than the daily outcomes. Be hyper focused on your process and the outcomes will take care of themselves. Champions act like champions long before they are champions.

What are you doing to produce? Production is about putting in the work. You can read all the books you want. You can listen to all the podcasts you want. But if you want to be good, you need to produce. What could you do to be more productive today?

What's your plan? Do you know? I have people ask me all the time what the biggest mistake people make in the mental game is...and i almost always respond that it's when people don't have a plan. All the great one's face adversity at one point or another, and they are fantastic at having a plan for when adversity hits.

Are you getting sucked into the drama triangle? Do you have friends that play the victim, the rescuer, or the prosecutor on a constant basis? Draw clear and strong boundaries. When needed, let your dramatic friends go. It is important to clear the noise when you are trying to perform at the highest level possible.