Five Mindset Fundamentals of Improvement

(This article is part of a continuing series of wellness articles. The articles cover ideas that can empower lives, athletic performance, careers and relationships. This writing is not for any specific illness or diagnosis. These are general tips and advice, not treatment for any condition.) By Terry Carter, RTT, CHyp As student-athletes grow and begin to improve physically with speed, strength, endurance, technique and dedication, they can quickly become standouts if the proper mental foundation is in place already. If it’s not, it can be cultivated by patient coaches, teachers, specialists. But it takes more repetitions, more time and often more battles to become a Gold Medal Mindset warrior in class, in sports and as an adult in this stress-overloaded world that seems to dominate our lives 24/7. The proper mental foundation has five areas of mastery that you can dominate before you enter high school or junior high if you are ambitious and determined to do your best. Emotional strength equals mental wellness equals you giving yourself the best chance to win every, single day. This is a huge benefit in preventing some of the mental health crisis currently running rampant, according to the media. The crisis includes more depression, violence, criminal activity, suicide attempts and more. Improvement requires daily focus and dedication, but the results will set you apart from 98 percent of those you meet in life in all areas because of your belief system, mindset, attitude of a champion. The 5 New Fundamentals of Improvement That You Control

1. AWARENESS — This is your ability to see a bigger picture than from your point of view. It’s a visual/visualizing and learned trait. When you can step back and see a scene from a third-person point of view, it’s easier see the team concept, another’s opinion on a debate or why going left may have worked better than going right. At a higher level, awareness ties into the teamwork concept of intuition, knowing when your receiver will break to the sideline. Awareness provides opportunity and a distinct advantage.
2. CHOICE — Once you are aware of your strengths, such as talents, potential, as well as your challenges, emotional pain, tough teachers, coaches, parents, you are free to make a choice: To learn more, solve challenges and improve. Or not. Those with a reason to improve will, but it is a conscious choice. Improvement does not happen by accident in most cases. It takes these qualities and focused effort to hit higher goals.
3. CONSISTENCY — Hall of Fame baseball legend Willie Mays has said being good once in a while is easy. It’s much harder to be consistently good each day. Consistency is a learned skill that grows as you become aware of excellence and mediocrity in your efforts. Consistency is not automatic either as all of us have days where we are not performing our best. Yet we can still choose to do our very best on that day and at that moment. It’s all you can ask of yourself. And as you do, you will find that repetition improves your best effort over time and your consistency.
4. RESILIENCE — This quality is likened to stubbornness because if you give up or back down, you will not win often. Resilience is the ability to find ways to achieve goals when it’s not your day. Sales people, athletes, students and parents face this challenge each day because life presents a series of tests to test your character. Students and young people in general take tests every week in class, but they also take them in life. The life tests are often about learning skills, manners, maturity, courtesy, compassion for others, saving money and much more. Being a willing student, even if you are the best in the school, aids your search of inner strength, which is resilience.
5. MANIFESTATION — These inner qualities, beliefs are yours to control while you may not have much control over the weather or others. But if you control what is within, you will find over time that you can control the results outside of you. Your grades will improve. Your team will play better and win more. Your mood will improve from the newfound beliefs you install so deeply that you no longer act aware, consistent or resilient. You are consistency; you are awareness, you are resiliency. And combined, those qualities give you control over your journey. The journey may not be easier, but your approach to daily challenges makes each day happier and more productive.

Note: In our next article, we will focus on 5 Habits That Hold Us Captive in our journeys to excel, do our best, succeed and win. We invite you to learn more details on how your life can improve with a trained mentor, coach or therapist. Contact World Wellness Today Monday-Thursday from 9-11 a.m. or 3-4 p.m. at 281.541.4983 to set-up a free consultation. Email UDTherapy@gmail for more information on the speed and long-term benefits of working with World Wellness Today. [gallery link="file" columns="2" size="large" ids="377524,377525"]