Get The MindRite: Step #1- Understand
MindRite training was created to help athletes develop a mindset that will give them the best experience possible, the greatest chance for optimal development, and in turn the best chance of success in his or her chosen sport. Insuring this mindset is a three step process. First, an athlete must understand the characteristics that exist within an athlete that has the proper mindset. Second, an athlete must use tools that allow them to practice the characteristics that will give them the proper mindset. And third, an athlete must be able to own these characteristics during competition. The following post will help an athlete, coach, or parent to better understand the process involved in developing the proper mindset.
Understand
The term "growth mindset" was introduced by Stanford Professor Carol Dweck in her book "Mindset." Dweck, through her research, found that people who possess a "growth mindset" are more resilient and more driven toward learning and personal development than people who possess a "fixed mindset". Simply stated people that have a "growth mindset" are focused on personal development, eager to learn and grow. They believe that results are based on their personal efforts and that they can change their results with great effort. When faced with adversity people with a "growth mindset" are up for the challenge, eager to test their personal capabilities and not afraid to fail in their efforts. People that have a "fixed mindset" are focused on the result, the outcome. They believe that results are based on "fixed" qualities and that their success or failure in a given activity is due to qualities within them that can not be changed. Dweck found that people with a "fixed mindset," that focus on the outcome, will often quit when the outcome is not what they had hoped for and look for other activities that might better suit their "fixed" abilities.
So now we put these two mindsets into the world of athletics. Athletes that possess a "growth mindset" do not become discouraged when the result is not what they hoped for. Instead they look at what they can do to improve, how they can grow and develop, and what they can do so that they will have better success in the future. Athletes with a "fixed mindset" become extremely discouraged when the result is not what they had hoped for. Since they believe their results are based on "fixed" abilities, abilities that can not be changed, they will stop putting in effort to develop when things are not going their way.
The exciting news is that Dweck found, with proper education and training, that people can develop and own a "growth mindset."
Once an athlete understands how and why a "growth mindset" can benefit them in their athletic experience, development, and success, an athlete must then practice techniques that will help them develop a "growth mindset."
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