A Performer’s Frame of Mind

The best performers in the world, the most resilient athletes, and the most relentless humans tend to have common characteristics.

They have a fierce sense of self-awareness and are not afraid to be honest with themselves to improve their craft or themselves.

Being honest with yourself can be uncomfortable and it takes bravery to uncover and accept your own truth.

When you choose to be honest with yourself, you are choosing to honor yourself - no matter how tough it can be to expose your blind spots.

The best performers built their strength by living their truth and being their most authentic selves.

When you work to be a better human (to yourself and others) there is a domino effect to become a better performer too.

One way to be honest with yourself is to name and create space between you and your feelings.

To take this to the next level means to know the opposite feelings or attitudes needed to shift into more productive thinking patterns.

Everyone has the means to become a better performer, and the choice lies within their willingness to face their emotions to better understand themselves.

The perspective we seek and the perspective we have is not the same.

Gratitude is the antidote to Envy.

Inspiration can reverse Jealousy.

Grace has power over Guilt.

Having the awareness to notice where you are and then using the thoughts and tools to shift to a more productive perspective is the separator between being oblivious and fully aware.

As simple as this sounds, the quickest way to a perspective change is to purposefully shift your frame of mind.

Feeling envious of your teammate who is getting more playing time than you?

Look and find gratitude for the opportunity to compete and be a part of a team.

Feeling jealous of the colleague who got the promotion but you didn’t?

Look and find inspiration in the task they achieved, and realize your jealousy stems from the innate ability to reach the same heights.

Feeling guilty over an interaction you had between a family member last week?

Look and find grace for yourself that you are learning and doing the best you can with the knowledge you had in the moment.

Recognizing the emotion comes first.

Working to shift the emotion and perspective comes second.

You can choose to stay envious, jealous, or feel the guilt.

Or you can choose to do the work that switches your thinking patterns to a more productive one.

In what area of your life could you shift your perspective to become a better performer?