The 2016 summer Olympics began last Friday, August 5th.

Admittedly, I am a casual fan of the Olympics and do not watch it in a committed manner.   However, all of the Olympic conversation and coverage have had me thinking a lot about the Olympics.  Specifically, I have been reflecting on the mindset of an Olympian.   I came up with the following insights.

1)  Olympians persevere, even in difficult circumstances.

One night, before the Olympics even began, my nine-year old daughter called my attention to a story that was aired on network television while we were out to dinner.  She said “Mommy, look at all of the trash in the water.”

I wasn’t facing the TV so I had no idea what she was talking about.    After all, we weren’t in a waterfront restaurant, and I didn’t see any water.

But when she  motioned to the TV behind me, I turned around.  I saw a picture of a body of water full of trash.   I was stunned to see a news headline that said that the Olympians were being warned to swim with their mouths closed because the pollution levels of the water in Brazil were dangerously high.

Thinking about Olympians swimming in the water was troubling to me.  In fact, it was so troubling that I spent some time reflecting on the poor conditions of the water for the next few days.

Even though I am not a competitive swimmer, I know that it is nearly impossible to swim without ever swallowing any water.   I asked…So how could swimmers be expected to keep their head above water and refrain from swallowing water?

But why?

Then, bigger questions emerged.  For instance, why wouldn’t our “evolved” societies send these hard working athletes to a better location?  Can’t we do better than this?  More importantly, shouldn’t we do better than this?

After all, Olympians often work LONG and HARD for the opportunity to compete in the the games.   They have a worldwide audience.   Didn’t we owe them better than sending them to sewage polluted waters to swim and/or row?

Ethical questions aside, I must admit that all that I could think when I saw the water was….”If I was an Olympics swimmer for this Olympics, I don’t know if I would be willing to deal with those circumstances to compete.”

Clearly, I don’t have the mindset of an Olympian.

The Olympians have an admirable mindset which makes them persevere, even in these clearly less than ideal unhygenic situations.  Instead of giving up, they are taking action; some are taking antibiotics, and others are wearing special anti-microbial suits.  They are doing it!

They are not giving up on their goals;  instead, they are teaching us about the importance of taking inspiredaction, even when the circumstances are DIFFICULT.

2)  Olympians Teach Us that the Impossible is Often Possible

We have all referred to a difficult task as IMPOSSIBLE.

But, was the task REALLY impossible, or did you simply tell yourself that it was impossible?

The mind is a powerful tool.  Sometimes, what we accomplish (or don’t accomplish) is determined in our minds, by our thoughts.

Research shows that mindset matters.  In fact, mindset has actually been shown to have the capacity to change our abilities!   An article published in Scientific American showed that a person’s positive thoughts could possibly improve their vision, impact their weight loss, impact their well-being, etc.  Wow!  Our mind is an amazingly powerful tool!

Likewise, limiting thoughts about what you are able to do, can limit what you actually accomplish.  So believe it, to help you achieve it!

Consider the impact of the mindset of an Olympian.

Most Olympians don’t include the word impossible in their vocabulary.

Jim Hines

For instance, Olympians like Jim Hines didn’t have a limiting mindset when he competed in the 100m sprint in the 1968 Olympics.

He didn’t listen to anyone who said that it was IMPOSSIBLE to run the 100m sprint in under 10 seconds because it hadn’t ever been done since the Olympics started in 1896.

Instead, Hines believed he could and broke the record when he ran the 100m sprint in 9.95 seconds in 1968!

By breaking this record, Hines made the IMPOSSIBLE, POSSIBLE.

Plus, Hines did much more than break a record; he changed the mindset of many other runners who had believed that a time under 10 seconds was impossible.  He changed the mindset of the world.

How?  Thanks to Hines’ record breaking performance, MORE people were able to run the 100m spring in under 10 seconds because THEY NOW BELIEVED THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE.  

Today, other people continue to use mindset to challenge the “impossible.”  In fact, Hines isn’t even in the top ten record holders anymore.  (The current record goes to Usain Bold with a time of 9.58 seconds.)

It seems that when others knew it was possible, they were able to SET and ACHIEVE a new goal.

 

So, would you adopt the mindset of an Olympian?

Let’s face it; most of the time, we are not even trying to accomplish a goal of Olympian proportion.

In fact, most of the time, we are not even trying to achieve something that has never been done.  Instead, we are trying to achieve something that many others before us have done; we are trying to lose 10 pounds, write a book, find a desirable mate, land a dream job, etc.

We are trying to complete a goal that CAN BE DONE.  Others have done it.   You can too.

But, if our mindset is poor, we may as well be trying to set a new world record because IF WE TELL OURSELVES (consciously or unconsciously) THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, it is likely that we will never reach our goal.   

Instead of believing that it is impossible, change your mindset and believe it IS POSSIBLE.

Visualize what it looks like when you have done it.

Rewire your brain, and change your thinking.

If you change the way that you think and you are more likely to get different results.

Remember, mindset is a HUGE contributor in achievement.

So, if you keep the same mindset that you have always had, and you are likely to get the same results that you have always had.

If you change your thoughts, you can make this happen for you too.

Don’t wait for someone like Jim Hines to show you that it can be done.   Change your own mindset;  try believing that the “impossible” is possible and you may achieve a new goal.

 

Tackling Your “Impossible” Challenge

If no one accepted an impossible challenge, would we have cars? electricity? Would a man have walked on the moon?  Would an MGH surgeon have successfully attached a severed hand that works? (Amazing stuff, huh?)

Chances are, the answers are NO.

So don’t maintain an attitude of can’t.  Stretch your wings, and tell yourself that you can fly (or run, write, speak, get fit, etc.)

 

Do you agree, but don’t know where to start?

The second law of thermodymanics says, as usable energy is lost, disorganization, randomness and chaos increase (http://www.allaboutscience.org/second-law-of-thermodynamics.htm).  In other words, left to your own devices, you and your energy may shift towards chaos instead of order.

If you need assistance, I can help.

Starting September 6th, 2016, I will be conducting a FREE 30 DAYS Goal Challenge.

If you want help to accomplish ONE goal, sign up for my FREE challenge today.