The Mindset influences what we pay attention to, what we’re motivated to do, how we feel and expect to feel, and what our bodies are prepared to do. And we make decisions every day on our responses.
Most action movie lovers enjoy the brilliance, precision, decision-making, resilience and determination of navy seals. They all come from an objective understanding of what the mindset means to them.
James Kagambi, a retired Kenyan teacher, was among the all-black team of climbers that reached the summit of Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain. This is an example of what the power of the mindset can do.
Photos: Coffee or Die Magazine and Kenya Wildlife Service (Twitter)
Teddy Mitrosili, a personal improvement writer, explained his experience with the serial entrepreneurs, elite athletes and navy seals, a US special operations force trained to engage in direct raids or assaults on enemy targets, conduct reconnaissance missions and take part in action against terrorist groups.
Here are nine powerful mindset lessons that Teddy learnt:
1. Don’t fight the cold in seal training, there’s something called “surf torture.” It’s what it sounds like. Lie in shallow water and let the surf wash over you. This is done at night, and it’s freezing. You stay in the water until they say stop. Fighting the cold takes tons of energy. Accepting it frees all that energy up. Surf torture is like any problem in life. The more we fight it, the more it takes from us. The sooner we accept it, the sooner we overcome it.
2. Choices are greater than feelings. We make too many decisions by how we feel. Elite performers prioritize choices over feelings. They do what they choose to do. Not what they “feel” like doing.
Photo: Sir Mo Farah (Instagram)
3. Be willing to be humbled, “The greatest gift you can give me is to humble me. “Failure is humbling. “Your willingness to be humbled determines how great you become. “So, how willing are you?”
4. Remember tomorrow. Amidst the struggle, remember how you’ll feel tomorrow. Remember tomorrow during today’s battles
5. Live by an Inner Scorecard. There are 2 ways to measure success: Outer Scorecard and Inner Scorecard. The best life is the latter. They measure success by things like values, principles, standards and excellence. Develop your Inner Scorecard.
6. Navy seals have a saying: When something sucks: “Full benefit.” Instant mindset shifts. Adversity makes us better if we let it.
Photos: Kenya Fashion Awards (Facebook) and African Print Clothing
7. Be deliberate with your words. Your tongue is your rudder. Most don’t realize this power. They say things like: I’m tired, this is hard, I don’t want to, what you say dictates what you see. Choose your words wisely.
8. Break the mountain down. The big picture leads to overwhelm. Focus on right now.
9. Take quitting off the table. Quitting complicates things. It lurks in the back of your mind. When times get hard, it taunts you. You spend endless energy negotiating with yourself. The best way is to remove this option completely. They commit to constant forward motion.
Article by Agnes Aboo (@wilfrida_agnes)
Email: agnesaboo@upeohubdigital.co.ke
