Hey Team, exercise is not just about physical fitness; it is also a fundamental component of our mental and emotional well-being. Beyond the health metrics, adopting a growth mindset can significantly impact your exercise routine and overall fitness journey.
A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and talents can be developed through dedication, effort, and a willingness to learn. Only when we embrace a growth mindset, can we unlock our potential, overcome obstacles, and achieve our fitness and personal goals. Let’s take a deep dive into the connection between a growth mindset and exercise, and show just how transformative the power of a growth mindset can be.
- Embracing Challenges
Ground zero = embrace challenges!! The ability to view challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles. Can we feel fear? Of course, that’s normal! But don’t let the fear stop you. When it comes to exercise, this mindset can help you push beyond your comfort zone and tackle new workouts, routines, or fitness goals. Life starts OUTSIDE of our comfort zone.
A growth mindset challenges us to understand that initial failures or setbacks are not indicators of your abilities but rather stepping stones towards improvement. Approach challenges as learning experiences, constantly seek ways to refine your technique, endurance, or strength. By embracing challenges, we cultivate resilience and perseverance, which are essential qualities for long-term success in fitness and life.
- Persistence and Effort
Persistence will get you everywhere! Effort and persistence are values that will beat innate talent any day of the week. Believe this and put in the necessary work to achieve goals, combine that with consistent effort and dedication and that’s the recipe to achieve progress. In the context of our fitness journey, this means committing to a regular workout routine, staying disciplined, and pushing through difficulties.
With a growth mindset, setbacks or plateaus are seen as opportunities to reevaluate and adjust your approach. If a particular exercise or routine feels challenging, persistently work on it, seek guidance, learn from others, or ask a coach for an alternative method. Understand that progress takes time and consistent effort to stay motivated and prevent giving up.
- Embracing Failure and Learning
Failure is an inevitable part of any fitness journey, but the way you perceive and respond to failure determines our growth. My personal philosophy regarding failure is that there is no such thing as failure. Everything is a lesson. It’s a setback. A growth mindset encourages us to embrace failure as an opportunity for learning and improvement. Rather than being discouraged by a setback, analyze what went wrong, adjust your approach, and try again. Wash, rinse, repeat.
When it comes to exercise, this mindset helps us learn from mistakes and discover new strategies to overcome challenges. Whether it’s an unsuccessful attempt at a new exercise, a missed workout, or a plateau in progress, a growth mindset prompts us to reflect, seek feedback, and adapt our approach. Each setback becomes a chance to gain insights, refine your technique, and ultimately grow stronger physically and mentally.
- Cultivating Self-Belief and Motivation
When you start approaching life with a growth mindset, a wonderful thing happens. We start to believe in ourselves, immediately followed by a strong intrinsic motivation to achieve. When we believe in our ability to improve through effort and dedication, we are exponentially more likely to stay committed to our exercise routine and push through barriers. Believe that you control your progress and then take ownership of your fitness journey.
A growth mindset allows us to focus on our own progress rather than comparing ourselves to others. Comparison can be motivating and it can also be defeating. Be careful of the comparison trap. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small, and appreciate the incremental improvements you make over time. In time, your confidence will soar, you’ll find yourself setting higher goals, challenging yourself further, and continue striving for personal growth in your fitness endeavors. What’s really fun is when it crosses over to your personal and professional life…MAGIC!!
Let’s Grow Together DSC!
Try a new movement. Ask a coach for help with a technique. Let’s embrace the challenges, persist through effort, learn from failure, and cultivate self-belief. Remember that fitness is not just a look, it’s a growth journey to include physical , mental and emotional growth. So, develop a growth mindset, embrace the process, and enjoy a more robust journey towards a healthier, fitter, and more richly fulfilled you.