November 1, 2019

Building Champion Mindsets

Mindset. That is, set your mind. It’s funny how simply switching around the sequence of words can trigger a new understanding of something commonly referenced. “Mindset” is a word thrown around frequently in all performance domains – check, it’s even in our tagline. But have you ever stopped to think about what “Building Championship Mindsets” really means?

A championship mindset is a mindset on the things of champions. Things that are true, noble, right, admirable. Things that are excellent. Greatness. Of course, champions reflect on past performances, strategize during tough seasons and plan for adversity, but, ultimately, their minds are set on their vision for the future and the things they must do in the present throughout the process to be successful.

Our brains have what is called a limited attentional capacity. That means that at any given time, we can only consciously hold and process so much information. For demonstration purposes, imagine your brain is like a 12 ounce cup.

When we fill our minds with junk, we are “filling our cups” with things that are not in alignment with our goals and objectives. If our minds are full of random collections, like the water, it just overflows.

How much water could this cup hold? You are correct – 12 ounces! And what would happen if I continued to pour water into this cup even after it was full? You are correct – it would overflow!

If we desire to be a champion and yet fill our minds with junk on a daily basis – whether it’s things we read or watch or listen to – we are “filling our cups” with things that are not in alignment with our goals and objectives. And, if our minds are full of random collections of things that are not things of champions, then when we do try to focus or choose confidence or remain emotionally controlled, it’s incredibly difficult for our brains to do that because, like the water, it just overflows.

Conversely, if we fill our minds with the right things – if we start looking for excellence and reading and thinking and observing things of greatness – then, when fear, doubt, worry and insecurity try to get in, it becomes a lot more difficult for those thoughts to negatively impact our performance. There is simply no room in our conscious brains for that type of processing!

The good news? We get to choose what goes into our cups because we can control our thoughts. If we want to “build a championship mindset,” then we must set our minds on the things of champions.

Originally, scientists believed that the brain was static and unchanging. But what we now know is that the brain can grow and change based on what we think about. This phenomenon, known as neuroplasticity, should bring us great hope as humans – we do not need to be conformed to the patterns of this world, or even our own current ways of thinking. By learning to manage our thought life, we literally can wire health into our brains at the neurological level.

When we talk about “building championship mindsets,” we mean training your brain to function and operate like that of a champion. Someone with a championship mindset:

• understands what motivates them and taps into that power consistently;
• prepares holistically (physically, technically, tactically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually);
• can focus and refocus effectively without being distracted by irrelevant information;
• possesses an emotional stability that navigates changing circumstances;
• is accountable for doing what they are supposed to do, when they are supposed to do it; and
• delivers their best, moment by moment, in each of the roles they fulfill.

Perhaps you wonder if the descriptors above could ever be said of you. Perhaps you’re feeling pretty good about yourself because you can, in fact, check the boxes above. Regardless of where you stand in your journey of mindset development, there is always opportunity for growth and even more consistency in how you approach, engage with and, ultimately, conquer every day.

Building a championship mindset will position you for continued growth and fulfillment, both personally and professionally. Here’s to your championship mindset!

Amber Selking, Ph.D., is founder of the Selking Performance Group, which has a mission of “Building Championship Mindsets” within its clients. This article is a preview of the presentation she will make on the same topic at TCIA’s Winter Management Conference 2020, February 9-13, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. For more information on WMC 2020 or to register, visit wmc.tcia.org.

When we fill our minds with junk, we are “filling our cups” with things that are not in alignment with our goals and objectives. If our minds are full of random collections, like the water, it just overflows. WMC 2020 Preview!

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