Mind Wide Open
Developing Your Greatest Skill, the Language of Your Mind for Increased Performance
By Rachael Cadden
*Photo courtesy of www.EricNelsonPhotography.com
Before building anything, a foundation is set. In athletics, architecture and mental conditioning.
The foundation is the basics. By understanding and mastering the basics, we can go deeper, then improve, enhance and accelerate your mental conditioning for personal and athletic achievement.
This entry is setting the foundation that will be your accomplice in increasing your performance, pushing beyond your limits and defying the impossible.
All of us have our own internal language. It is what we tell ourselves, consciously and unconsciously, and drives our achievement or lack thereof regardless of intention or will. Usually influenced or taught to us growing up by others. Some we learned and created from our own experiences and circumstances. We all have an internal language of belief about ourselves, what we can do, our surroundings and how it inhibits, limits or accelerates us from/into personal excellence and achievement.
Example, we all grew up believing the sky is blue. In our young state we didn’t question it. What if the sky really isn’t blue? What if it was actually purple. What if I told you what you “thought” about the sky being blue your entire life isn’t actually true. Would you believe it or be open to believing it? Think about it and just notice how your mind may combat and even question the absurdity. It is the same with ingrained language patterns and beliefs. Often the mind, for survival or protection, does the same. It combats anything that challenges the story we've believed. These old languages/beliefs/stories are the driving force that often limits advancement.
This example is obviously far fetched and will allow you to see, think and be more aware of your own thoughts in your performance and accomplishments. It’s broad and very general, most of my work is individualized and personalized, but these examples will provide insight for developing your mental conditioning by first being aware. It is your personal responsibility, notice them, be willing to let them go and give yourself a new language. How? By practicing.
Let’s challenge what language or thoughts you have been holding onto, what stories you have been telling yourself and your belief about what you can lift, run, PR, perform, achieve, race, accomplish and crush. It begins with your awareness. Notice your thoughts going into a WOD (workout of the day), a WOD that is a challenge for you, one that scares you or involves movements that you are not “good” or “strong” at. How quick are you to think or state your reason why you are not good or strong at something. Are you beginning to see?
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