Progress and Positive Mental Attitude

Progress is always going to be two steps forward, one step back.

Having a positive mental attitude will continue to help us keep moving forward, despite taking those steps back.

Having a negative mental attitude will prevent us from moving forward, and continue our slide back once taking that inevitable step back.

The key is to maintain having a positive mental attitude when training and practicing to progress our skills.

If and when a negative mental attitude starts to take over, then we need to recognize it as soon as possible and take action to counter it.

A lot of the time negative self-talk comes with having a negative mental attitude. Recognizing and quickly countering negative self-talk with thought stopping is a strategy we can use to flip the script in our head in order to keep moving forward with a positive mental attitude.

For example, when we recognize that we start saying to ourselves, “I’m tired; I can’t complete the next 21 reps,” or “this is too heavy; I will miss this lift,” then we can switch our self-talk to use a mental or physical cue to get us to move forward. A deep nasal inhale, or stomping your heels, or saying to yourself, “I’m doing great; keep going,” or “jump and catch” are great examples of cues for thought stopping. What are some of your mental or physical cues that you use for thought stopping? If you don’t have any, then think of some and maybe brainstorm with others in class to have some of your own.

Remember, you are not alone on your journey. There are others in class who are taking their two steps forward, and one step back on their journey. They might not be taking that step back at the same time as you, however. They might be moving forward, where they can help pull you forward at the same time. You might be taking that step back one day, but everyone in class being so supportive and positive, can help you through. They might be even adding some thought stopping for you and reminding you of your goal(s). This is the power of our positive-minded Tribe progressing together. You are awesome to be part of it.

A+ (A positive) person strives to B+ (be positive) and C+ (see positive) aspects in everything.