“Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.”
(Mia Hamm)
How can you as a player, coach, and/or parent improve your performance, gain more confidence, and have more fun while you take on challenges?
For starters, you can work on developing a growth mindset.
Carol Dweck, Ph.D., author of “Mindset”(an awesome book that we highly recommend), discovered that our brain’s thoughts about a task will have an enormous impact on our ability to learn and improve. We either believe that our abilities are set in stone (Fixed Mindset), or believe that our abilities can be cultivated through continual effort (Growth Mindset).
Here’s a brief comparison between the two mindsets.
When you’re in a Growth Mindset, you…
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Believe skills and abilities are learned and developed through hard work and strategies.
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Focus on the process of learning and improving (Process vs. Outcome)
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View Challenges and setbacks as opportunities to get better.
When you’re in a Fixed Mindset, you…
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Believe skills and abilities are something you’re born with. You either have it or you don’t.
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Focus on outcomes and trying not to look bad.
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Believe mistakes and setbacks mean, “I’m a failure,” and “I cant improve.”
All of us go back and forth between these mindsets depending on the situation. You can’t control when fixed mindset thoughts come into your mind, but you can be self-aware and steer your mind towards a growth mindset. To do this, you need both hard work and strategies. Remember this formula…
HARD WORK + STRATEGIES = GROWTH
BOTH hard work and strategies are required to grow and improve. Most people are willing to put in the work, but most people aren’t as willing to try new strategies.
Throughout your week, as you look to develop and strengthen your growth mindset, remember to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, take responsibility for your words and actions, and acknowledge that effort is the path toward mastery. “PRACTICE MAKES PROGRESS,” as we like to say!
How’s your mental game? What questions can we answer for you about mindsets? Hit reply and let us know how we can help!
Train Your Brain. Transform Your Game!
