How Athletes Use Mindset Training to Win

The next time you watch the Super Bowl, the World Series, the World Cup, or any major sports event, make note of all the athletes who made it that far. Look at how the team operates together and what the individuals do in their own time.

How do they train? Maybe they have some unique approaches instilled by their coaches as to how they improve or achieve their success. Maybe there is something in their diet or routines that stands out.

Odds are the athletes you are reading about have lifestyles that incorporate a growth mindset. They may even have their own mindset coaches, and for good reason. Mindset plays a huge role in the success of an athlete and under the guidance of their coaches, they find the means to succeed personally and win as a team.

While individual athletes may find their own unique way of utilizing a growth mindset, there are certain techniques that are pretty much used across the board.

Personal Acceptance

Everyone, literally everyone, is going to fall short of their goals and ambitions along the way. The whole journey of getting to where we want to requires us to improve ourselves in some form in order to achieve the results we want.

Often one of the things keeping us from acknowledging our need for self-improvement is the blame we put on others. As Tom Brady puts it “…too often in life, something happens and we blame other people for us not being happy or satisfied or fulfilled.”

Brady takes an approach to his training where he fully accepts responsibility in the ways he needs to improve. It’s a growth mindset approach that helps you to actually progress. So long as you don’t take personal ownership of your shortcomings, you will always struggle to accept you have the ability and control to progress.

Welcome the Failures

Every athlete has at some point experienced losing. Oftentimes there are those who fail and will allow their character to be defined by that one failure, or even give up because they failed. Some use that failure to be their drive to succeed, or someone like Serena Williams who sees her failures as opportunities for growth. She says, “Failing allows you to fall and rise up higher than you could if you didn’t fail.”

The words she is saying are words of a growth mindset. Williams takes it as an opportunity to learn about where she needs to grow. She doesn’t allow the failure to determine her worth or value as a person or athlete. Failure is a tool to better yourself.

Focus

When competing, an athlete can get caught up in the drama of sports politics. Suppose someone says something you take personally, or maybe someone tries to distract you from the goal and get into your head. Regardless of what it may be, athletes face so many distractions that can mess with their performance and their ability to stay calm.

This is where being focused comes into play. Michael Phelps as a renowned swimmer has been criticized by many. Both fellow swimmers and fans of the general sport have plenty to say about him, but he has continuously managed to set an example of the importance of focus.

Rather than get caught up in petty behaviors, he has his focus on winning. He sets his goals and puts all his thoughts, efforts, and energy into utilizing a growth mindset and focusing on that goal.

“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”

There are so many athletes who are worth noting. Often, if not always, the success of an individual athlete’s performance and success can be attributed to their training. Usually, a growth mindset is accompanied by the success of most athletes’ techniques. They aren’t concerned with ego. They aren’t worried about failing. They know what they need to do to improve, and they do it.

You may feel you contrast so much in comparison to the athletes out there that you could never achieve your goals. The reality is, everyone has to start somewhere, and no single athlete was just born with all the talent in the world. They still have to practice. They still have to work hard. Energy and time and dedication are required.

One thing that is important to consider is that these athletes don’t just work at their goals alone. They have coaches, friends, peers, and family to motivate them. You may not have all that, but you do have everything you need to start.

Places such as Deep End Fitness offer training and mindset coaching to give you that extra motivation and focus you may not feel you can achieve.

Success is rarely achieved alone, if truly ever. If you want to succeed in the way your favorite athletes have, follow their example.