Mindset over Miles

"Your mind will quit a thousand times before your body will. Feel the fear and do it anyway."

Some athletes have the ability to lose track of time when they're in the zone. They're at optimum pace and they enter a state of "flow." I can't say that I experience this very often when putting in miles.

When things aren't perfect and we don't experience flow, negative thoughts can occupy that space and push us away from our potential. Even if we're not to the level [yet] where we can experience bliss in our hardest work, we can still change our mindset. Our potential is unknowable, so we may as well keep going!

Being a student takes practice, hard work, bravery, experiencing failure, and taking pride in accomplishment. It doesn't matter if we're a student of running, music, arts, physics, engineering - in order to achieve mastery at any level, we have to take risk, put in time, and keep thinking forward.

The chart below is something that I hope will be helpful to me as a teacher this year so I can be a more positive and helpful coach as my students take on new challenges. I hope it helps us all to grow to be better students, musicians, and leaders.

FIXED MINDSET - RUNNING:

I haven't run in months ; I might as well give it up.
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There's no way I'll run that race well; I shouldn't even sign up.

I am going so slowly that I'll never get there.

Everybody out here is faster/better than me.


I'm horrible at this.




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I'm too nervous to race today.


That was an awful run. I'm not cut out for this.



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FIXED MINDSET: MUSICIAN

I didn't pick up my instrument all summer. I might as well quit.
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I don't think I'll go to the concert/contest because I don't think I'll play well.




I can't play it that fast. I'll never play as well as they can.



Everybody out here is better than me.


I'm horrible at this. ​








I'm too nervous to play.



That was a horrible performance. I'm going to get a bad rating.

GROWTH MINDSET - RUNNING:

Let's celebrate our first day back today. It'll feel good to be stronger.
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Races are a celebration of your hard work, not your speed.

You're not there yet, but you're still moving forward.

Use the other runners as motivation to keep working your hardest.

You can change that ability - you weren't born a horrible runner. You're not strong yet, but you'll be stronger after each workout.

Embrace it! Being nervous shows that you care.

You got great feedback today . Your failure taught you more than success ever could. Use it to change the way you plan for the next run.

GROWTH MINDSET: MUSICIAN

Let's celebrate our first day back today. Be proud of yourself for continuing!
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Concerts are a showcase of the hard work you will demonstrate in rehearsal. You and your audience will be proud of your musical accomplishment.

You're not there yet, but you're playing with a beautiful sound and still getting faster. Take it one click at a time.

Use the other musicians as motivation to keep working your hardest.

You can change that ability - you weren't born a horrible musician. In fact, not long ago, you didn't even know how to hold your instrument! You haven't mastered this YET, but you will become more musical after each practice.

Embrace it! Being nervous shows that you care.


You just received the most valuable feedback you could. This failure taught you how you can prepare and practice more effectively for your next performance so you are successful.