ACCEPTING FAILURE AS PART OF THE PROCESS

The mind doesn’t distinguish between “Do” and “Don’t.” For example, let’s say you are playing golf and there is a water hazard to your right. If you are thinking “Don’t hit it in the water” or “watch out for the water” or even “you have to hit it over the water” you are introducing a negative outcome, a “Don’t.”

In basketball it might be “Don’t miss”, “Don’t shoot an air ball or brick,” or “Don’t choke.”  I like what Michael Jordan said “I never looked at the consequences of missing a big shot . . . when you think about the consequences you always think of a negative result.” If you have these types of negative outcome thoughts you are worrying about failing. What’s interesting is when we are focused on “not failing” we get nervous, tighten up and we end up failing. This is called self fulfilling prophesy. Remember, the mind doesn’t distinguish between “Do” and “Don’t.”

Developing an attitude that failure is just part of the process & that it will lead to success if you let it is a huge key to unlocking your potential. Accepting failure as part of the process, that mistakes will happen, removes the perceived pressure and allows you to play with confidence thinking “I was made for this moment!”  Now you are not thinking about failing, instead you’re focused on doing what you do, the task at hand, you’re present, in the moment focused on the process and your chances to succeed! Stop being afraid to fail instead start being afraid of not failing! Failure is good feedback. Focus on what you’re learning & how you’re progressing. You’ll have more breakthrough’s and more fun! This approach & attitude will lead to more success and will help you have the mental edge!