The most important ingredient for success, in brief, is mindset. Give me 2 minutes. I’ll prove it.
Thousands of studies unquestionably prove that negative thinking hurts performance.
Unfortunately “Our brains scout for the bad stuff” and fixate on the threat, says psychologist and author Rick Hanson.
“The negativity bias is our tendency not only to register negative stimuli more readily but also to dwell on these events.” I.e Our brain is wired for survival it gives priority to negative thoughts in order to to protect us. While other psychologists argue that negativity motivates us. “People have less motivation when an incentive is framed as a means to gain something than when the same incentive will help them avoid the loss of something.”
Yet these same negative thoughts undoubtedly limit our body strength and chances for success.
Sounds like a catch 22
Surely I can back up my bold claim. Indeed. This is a little magic trick you can try at home. I give my client Ian (who benches 300 btw) a strength test. He holds his arm directly out. I try to push it down. I fail. (Click below to watch the whole test).
I ask Ian to say “I feel weak,” 5 times, then retest his strength.
I push his hand down with ease. The effect of even faux negativity is instant and measurable. His thoughts made him physically weaker. Try this at home. It is not rigged.
I’m not a psychiatrist. I don’t have any bright ideas about how we push past negative thoughts save this one: If you want to reach a goal, fitness or otherwise, you better believe that it’s gonna happen.
Remove all doubt.
Can’t remove the doubt? Fake it ‘til you make it.
Thoughts become things, confidence is king, Mindset matters, and in the words of Peter Pan ‘Think Happy thoughts and you’ll fly.’