Mindset Training Needs a Makeover
You should be thinking about this just like training your body
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The typical view of mindset training is wrong.
Most people still view mindset training as a nice to have. As something to deploy when there’s a problem on our hands.
We want to see sport psychology for what it is: a set of skills that can and should be trained like physical skills, and an integral component of what it means to pursue greatness. It’s a missed opportunity for most teams and a competitive advantage for those who get started.
There are two reasons for this problem (at least).
The first is that we still view working on anything to do with our mindset as a sign that something is “wrong” with us.
Mindset training is thought of in the same vein as therapy, as a thing you do when a problem comes about. Therapy, of course, has its place and, like mindset training, shouldn’t only be something you do when there’s a problem.
But when it comes to training your mind for peak performance, viewing mindset training like any other mental health service misses the best way to build these skills.
You don’t fix a roof when it’s raining, you fix a roof when it’s sunny out.
It’s not something to do when there’s a problem.
Mindset training is something to do to prevent problems in the first place.
The second reason is that we’ve peddled a small set of skills as a universal solution to mindset problems. The idea that you can train a subset of skills - goal-setting, self-talk, imagery, and arousal management - only when a problem arises, and then emerge victorious in any endeavor is, at best a partial solution and at worst entirely misleading.
This subset of skills has also morphed into valid, but again oversimplified, tropes about performance. Things like “control the controllables,” and “focus on the process.” Of course, you should do those things, but those things alone won’t make you great. You also have to learn to influence the things you can’t control and to get real with yourself that, in most endeavors, the outcome also matters—a lot.
Like any other aspect of excellent performance, mindset training is simple, but not easy.
Yes, these skills help. But the idea that just 4 skills can arm you with everything you need for a great mental game misses the intimate links between the brain and body, between the environment and behavior, between psychology and learning.
High performance also requires:
- Controlling your environment
- Building a foundation of well-being
- Mastering mindsets AND mental skills
- Learning how to learn consistently
Being great means a mastery of these things, too.
With the right practice and a willingness to examine everything that goes into excellence, you give yourself a real shot at consistent performance and unlocking your full potential. It’ll take much more than just controlling the controllables, but it’ll be worth it.
When you’re ready, there are a couple of ways I can help you:
Book a Call with Momentum Labs
If you’re looking for 1:1 coaching, you can work with a mindset coach in my practice. Book a time here.
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