“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”
― Winston S. Churchill
Your journey starts with the attitude you choose. It’s a way of thinking, which is reflected in your behaviors. Regardless of the situation and circumstances, it comes down to your approach. A negative attitude is like having a flat tire-you’re not going to get very far.
Why is attitude important?
Simply because a positive attitude, creates optimism which is positive energy. And positive energy is much better at setting good things into motion than negative energy is.
Attitude is a personal choice and it’s one of the elements we are able to control. It’s a decision and a learned behavior, requiring discipline and energy to sustain. A mental fit person has a positive attitude towards everything they experience and believe that everything that happens is for the best. They trust the process and focus on it whilst maintaining a serious, yet passionate approach. Their mindset is not result-oriented but process-oriented. Likewise, they understand that they will not always perform at their best level, but they know that by keeping a winning mindset and positive attitude, the chances for success are improved. A successful person is not only willing to work on developing their skills, but also on building their mindset. This being said, it’s our attitude when dealing with adversity that determines our level of success.
The three attitudes
Don’t allow yourself to have a yesterday attitude– by dwelling on things that didn’t go the way you wanted on your previous performance or a tomorrow attitude– by procrastinating and finding excuses on not getting things done now. Instead, have a today attitude– by focusing on what you can do to get better right now. This involves striving to be productive and get things done, committing to excel and giving your best effort, staying focused and aware with one task at a time, and focusing on the positive. Don’t let past failures take control of your mind, and don’t overthink situations. Just focus on now and simply do it.
Discipline
Similarly with attitude, you need to have discipline in everything you do. Discipline is developed throughout the years, and it consists of all the good habits you’re developing. Therefore, it’s what urges you to get out of the comfort zona, to get out of your bed when it’s dark and when you’re tired, to do the extra and commit to pushing the limits. Discipline propels you to choose what’s hard and needs to be done over what’s easy and comforting.
Besides the physical demands, discipline is necessary for mental toughness. It takes discipline to control emotions and maintain the focus on the task at hand. In addition, discipline is what makes one follow the routines and rituals needed to control the temper, maintain a positive attitude, body language, and deal with frustration. Discipline also involves taking responsibility of your own actions and tasks such as hydration, healthy nutrition, time management, planning, recovery, etc.
“The definition of discipline is to do what you’re supposed to do when you’re supposed to do”
Finally, keep your outlook positive. By doing so, you give yourself the best chance to perform well. Take on your feeling with courage and determination, and never allow a bad attitude to hold you back from achieving the level of personal success you’re capable of. Never beat yourself up after a loss- there’s always something positive to be gained, to be learned, even from a negative situation.
Sources:
- Champion Minded by Allistar McCaw
- The Champion’s Mind by Jim Afremow
- The Art of Mental Training by D.C. Gonzalez
1 comment