{"id":2219,"date":"2021-01-05T09:48:34","date_gmt":"2021-01-05T09:48:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/?p=2219"},"modified":"2021-09-12T21:38:22","modified_gmt":"2021-09-12T21:38:22","slug":"the-power-of-the-positive-mindset","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/co-creation.group\/the-power-of-the-positive-mindset\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of the Positive Mindset"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of my friends asked me a question today. \u201cHey Kath, what\u2019s the best bit of kit you own?\u201d<\/p>\n

That set me pondering a little. I am after all a triathlete and I own loads of kit, cupboards full of it, queen of \u201cstuff\u201d so is it my trainers, nope; my wetsuit, maybe; my bike; possibly (my husband calls it Precious so it must be pretty special).<\/p>\n

I could not make my mind up. I um\u2019d and ah\u2019d a bit and then suddenly, that made my mind up! Ah ha, yes, there it is, my best bit of kit, my very own, perfectly unique, more precious than Precious, can\u2019t be copied, you got it, my MIND! Phew\u2026..<\/p>\n

Having reached this happy conclusion, I began to think about how it helps me out \u2013 and doesn\u2019t. How influential my thoughts are on my \u201cstate\u201d and performance and how much I enjoy seeing people grow and flourish as they become aware of this for themselves. I want to share more about this!<\/p>\n

This bit of kit we\u2019ve been given is simply amazing and my inner voice (fondly known as IV hereafter) is super chatty, is yours?<\/p>\n

It has such a lot to say for itself. When it\u2019s pushing me positively forward, what a huge difference that makes. Sometimes though when it\u2019s less helpful, quite frankly it has been overwhelming to the point I\u2019ve needed a word with myself. \u201cCome on Thomas\u201d I\u2019ll say to myself. A small mindful intervention to stop the runaway train and set me back on the rails.<\/p>\n

What I\u2019ve found during 2020 is that pushing the reset button to stay positive and go forward instead of dragging the duvet over my head and blaming the cat for having just one more hour has been more necessary, more frequent and has provided me with a whole range of opportunity to understand myself better, my triggers and my most effective strategies to keep performing both in business and as an athlete.<\/p>\n

Keeping a positive mindset has meant the difference between metaphorically winning and losing for many. My Mum\u2019s Christmas gift sums it up rather nicely for me, \u201cShe believed she could so she did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roll forward to 2021 and I think we\u2019ve another challenging year ahead.<\/p>\n

IV  – \u201cAll your years have been challenging!\u201d<\/p>\n

Me \u2013 \u201cReally, have they?\u201d<\/p>\n

IV \u2013 \u201c Yes, you always say you like a challenge and if there isn\u2019t one looming you go find one 😉\u201d<\/p>\n

Me, laughing \u2013 \u201cMmmm, very true, well good, let\u2019s get ready for that then!\u201d<\/p>\n

So, I\u2019m happily reminding myself just how I tap into that positive mindset, preparing to use my best bit of kit to good effect and to embrace what\u2019s in the year ahead (which should, alongside helping my clients grow and develop, include an Ironman and European Championships so plenty of chance to practice for peak performance).<\/p>\n

With this in mind (forgive the pun 😉), I\u2019d love to share some key tools and techniques with you too and I\u2019ll be discussing this in my upcoming interactive session where I\u2019ll be alongside Rebecca Stevens, who is an expert in this field.<\/p>\n

By better understanding what mindset really is, how it is impacted and the effect that has on us and those around us, we can choose to make a difference to the way we think, and how we feel and therefore act. Knowing this as our thinking cycle, that there even is a thinking cycle, is powerful. We can begin to understand what triggers a thought and whilst we can\u2019t prevent the trigger, we can determine our response to it, if we want to! Your self-talk (my IV) will impact how you feel and what you do.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve seen this when athletes race against one another. On paper, athlete A, let\u2019s call him Simon should easily have finished his race ahead of athlete B, let\u2019s call him Paul. But when Simon was faced with Paul picking up his run pace unexpectedly, Simon\u2019s self-talk left him in no doubt that he would lose the race, there was no way he would ever catch Paul. Guess what?<\/p>\n

What you think affects what you feel and what you feel affects how you act – and this cycle goes round and round. We recommend you focus on the quality of your thinking – ask yourself:<\/p>\n