As most of you already know, I’m obsessed with communication. I am most obsessed with the communication that I can’t see or hear — the communication that goes on in your head, with yourself.
Most of us aren’t even aware of the constant messages being delivered by our subconscious that guide our beliefs and therefore our actions. Some of these messages were formed before we remember by the actions or beliefs of others, as well as our own experiences, but they still affect us today.
It’s amazing how our thoughts affect how we see the world, and therefore what happens in our life. We really do get what we focus on.
I work with people from many areas on changing their mindset, and each time I do, I learn something new.
One of my favorite ways to research this is to watch people training for sports. It may be because I’ve worked with some gyms and trainers as a communication coach over the past few years, or it may be because it’s an area of life where the mindset is so obvious and its impact is so immediately measurable.
The great athletes in any sport are great because of their minds. They have learned to control their subconscious and the messages it sends as well as their bodies. This isn’t something that happens by magic on the day of a big event. It’s something they train for everyday. They work out their minds as well as their muscles.
Athletes visualize the race or the game and rehearse mentally as well as physically. How many of us do the same? When you have a big meeting or interview coming up, do you mentally rehearse? Do you play a video in your mind of you being offered the job, or do you let your attitude be determined by the doubts that your subconscious is so good at providing.
We all love others to believe in us. It gives us a boost to know someone else is rooting for us. After all, where would a sports team be without it’s fans? The real belief, though, has to come from yourself.
You have to believe that you are good enough. Your beliefs will guide your life, your relationships, the amount your earn, the friends you have, your weight, your health and everything else. The good news is that you already know how to change your mind. You have already done it many times.
You have already communicated with yourself perfectly to get wherever you are today. You just have to decide where you want to be tomorrow.
(Aileen Bennett is a professional speaker and author who is obsessed with communication. For more information, go to www.thatspeaker.com. She can be reached at aileen@thatspeaker.com.)
“That’s what she said” is published every Tuesday in the Daily Advertiser, you can find the original online version here
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
You are so right about the mindset and mental preparation of professional athletes. We also use it a lot in Special Operations, to ensure we’d gone through every scenario imaginable to prevent any surprises or mishaps.
I would love to see what you could do with a sports team (before and after) kind of thing.. I bet the results would be drastic and if it were a kids team, it would go much further than the team thing. I bet it would change the way the kids approach their every day life too!
TB
Terry
I would love to do that, working with your trainers last year confirmed my love of the fitness industry. I wish more people realized that fitness has 3 elements: workouts, diet and MINDSET. I’ve seen the third one fail people over and over again. Find me a team, and I’m there!