Mindset Matters

Confidence is the key to a successful athlete. It's the key to all success.

Confidence is the key to a successful athlete. It's the key to all success.

The book “what to say when you talk to yourself” says that 75% of the messages we send ourselves are negative. Can you imagine that? That’s scary to me. That means that 3 out of every 4 things I say to myself today are negative. In general, we need to take control of that conversation. It’s time to stop listening to ourselves and start talking to ourselves. One tool that can help is staying in the moment. In the article that I read today, 60% of our thoughts are in the future, and 30% of our thoughts are in the past. That leaves only 10% of our thoughts in the present. That is an unacceptable number to me. No amount of guilt can change the past, and no amount of anxiety can change the future. The trick is to be where your feet are. Practice being in the present. If you are with you spouse be with your spouse. If you are with your children be with you children. If you are playing a sport, just play your sport. You get the idea. In sport psychology we often say, “Don’t should all over yourself” Meaning, come back to the present, and stop beating yourself up for things you should have done. Easy enough, right?

The book “what to say when you talk to yourself” says that 75% of the messages we send ourselves are negative. Can you imagine that? That’s scary to me. That means that 3 out of every 4 things I say to myself today are negative. In general, we need to take control of that conversation. It’s time to stop listening to ourselves and start talking to ourselves. One tool that can help is staying in the moment. In the article that I read today, 60% of our thoughts are in the future, and 30% of our thoughts are in the past. That leaves only 10% of our thoughts in the present. That is an unacceptable number to me. No amount of guilt can change the past, and no amount of anxiety can change the future. The trick is to be where your feet are. Practice being in the present. If you are with you spouse be with your spouse. If you are with your children be with you children. If you are playing a sport, just play your sport. You get the idea. In sport psychology we often say, “Don’t should all over yourself” Meaning, come back to the present, and stop beating yourself up for things you should have done. Easy enough, right?

So here’s my challenge for you today. Think back to a time when you were super successful and super happy. What were you doing at that time in your life? This could range from daily routines and habits, to service for others, to a confident mindset. There are many factors that go into a successful and happy life. But think about it, and think about what you were doing at those times in your life that you felt super confident, successful, and happy. Now, take a little inventory and find out which of those things you are lacking. It could be many, or it could be one. The challenge today is to pick one of those things that you were doing, and implement it in your life again. Start with the easiest one, and slowly add some of the others in as you see fit. You’ll see an impact in your life almost immediately.

So here’s my challenge for you today. Think back to a time when you were super successful and super happy. What were you doing at that time in your life? This could range from daily routines and habits, to service for others, to a confident mindset. There are many factors that go into a successful and happy life. But think about it, and think about what you were doing at those times in your life that you felt super confident, successful, and happy. Now, take a little inventory and find out which of those things you are lacking. It could be many, or it could be one. The challenge today is to pick one of those things that you were doing, and implement it in your life again. Start with the easiest one, and slowly add some of the others in as you see fit. You’ll see an impact in your life almost immediately.

Relationships help us to flourish. When you have a good relationship, guard it with your life. Guard it as if you just found the Count of Monte Cristo’s hidden treasure. They don’t always come easy, but when they do, they are priceless. Water your friendships, fertilize your connections, and give light to the partners in your life.

Relationships help us to flourish. When you have a good relationship, guard it with your life. Guard it as if you just found the Count of Monte Cristo’s hidden treasure. They don’t always come easy, but when they do, they are priceless. Water your friendships, fertilize your connections, and give light to the partners in your life.

My challenge to you today is to make a small change in how you use your phone. My guess is that you’ve already found a thousand excuses as to why you use the phone the way you do. Stop. No more excuses. Make a small change that can make a big difference in your life. Don’t overwhelm yourself.

My challenge to you today is to make a small change in how you use your phone. My guess is that you’ve already found a thousand excuses as to why you use the phone the way you do. Stop. No more excuses. Make a small change that can make a big difference in your life. Don’t overwhelm yourself.