The right mental attitude

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. Thomas Jefferson

On Saturday it was Scottish Basketball Cup finals day. Our under 18 team were up  against their closest rivals all season. The last 2 games they have played against each other our team were beaten. The talent in the teams is pretty similar and the games would always be a close run thing. On Saturday our team won – by 20 clear points.

Now I have to say that the last time I saw them play each other I was concerned by the apparent lack of belief and confidence that our team showed. I had never seen them like this. So it was with some anxiety that I went along to the final.

Talking to the coach afterwards I asked him what had changed. He produced a page of quotes which he had given the players the day before the final – one of which was the quote at the top of this post. Did his tactic work? Well something surely did because their tough mental attitude on the day was clear.

Many of us will have experience of someone who is not reaching their full potential. Whilst there may be other factors involved the right mental attitude can make such a difference to achievement. As a coach I am privy to lots conversations with clients where even the smallest change in attitude can make a huge difference. Sometimes this comes from the language being used. I recently met someone who in his introduction to me he mentioned his profession but qualified this by saying that he was “only an..” ie at a different level from others – but clearly by the words he used he considered it to be an  ”inferior” level. Does this impact on his attitude to himself?

So – at the start of this week I urge you to think about the state of your mental attitude and if it could do with a bit of polishing – go for it!