Yep, I totally 100% absolutely agree with that statement. It really is ALL in your head! Or…at least in your brain! Our success in any area is so very dependent upon what’s running around in the space between our ears. How you think about things has such a strong influence on the outcome that it’s almost spooky. Think negative, victim thoughts…and that’s what you’ll get. Think positive, accountable thoughts…and that’s the result you’ll experience. It really is true that mindset makes the difference!
Because this connection is so powerful, I get really psyched with athletes are able to switch their mindset to one that is patient & resilient. This is exactly what Tonja Dyke has done. She has switched from short-term to long-term focus & has discovered how much she genuinely enjoys the process. Congrats, Tonja! I am so proud of you!!
In Tonja’s own words:
“It’s one thing to set a goal, but achieving that goal is another thing altogether. Recently I’ve come to understand that shifting my mindset is the key to reaching my goals.
January 2024 marked my 1yr-ish anniversary of learning to swim via a combination of private swim lessons & Sunday Technique Sessions. Fastforward to today & I’ve been working on learning stroke technique for almost 2yrs!
It has not been a fast process. Along the way I took some time off & I certainly haven’t gotten to the pool to practice as much as I would have liked. So, I found it interesting that, instead of feeling defeated that I haven’t ‘got this yet’ (short-term focus), my mindset has shifted to thinking more about ‘being a swimmer for life’ (long-term focus).
When people ask the reason why I do swim lessons, I catch myself telling them that I want to ensure that I can swim into my 80’s; I want an activity that I won’t ‘age out of’. Besides, the 80yr old swimmers I know just seem so much more vibrant & alive than the non-swimmers!
After hearing myself say ‘My goal is to swim into my 80’s.’ out loud a few times, I really took that sentiment to heart. Now, instead of feeling frustrated & impatient with the process, I feel lucky to have roughly 30 more years to learn to swim efficiently! I’m definitely in this for the long haul!”
If you’re ready to change your mindset, click here to learn about Swim Lessons & here for info on Coaching options.