In 1954, Roger Banister created a record that most experts and scientists believed was physically and scientifically proven to be impossible to complete a mile within 4 minutes, Roger completed it in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds. What motivated him to take up such a challenge?
Does it take luck, mental strength, or resilience to do such a feat? What does it take to achieve the impossible even when the odds are against us?
Not being flexible in our thought process is like imprisoning our mind into the belief that we are not capable of doing the task. It's the mind that limits a man's potential. Even the most skilled and talented people may fail to achieve their goals because of their mindset. It's the mindset that separates the rest from the best.
Football is a game where players reach their prime between the age of 26-30 and retire by the time they are 35, Cristiano Ronaldo, a Portugese Football Player, has redefined what it means to be a football player. At the age of 40, he is breaking records and creating new ones every week while making it look easy. The truth is that it is years of hard work, discipline and consistency that paved his path to success.
What makes him different from other athletes with the same qualities?
Is it his good looks or charisma?
The answer is 'his mindset.'
In the world of social media, no one is afraid to criticize anyone. Celebrities or Sportspersons are no exception. Cristiano Ronaldo had a bad patch of games during a time when he lost his father. It did not stop the critics from criticizing him but Ronaldo bounced back with rejuvenated energy to rule the game. His mental stamina and strength make him different from the other players. The mere idea of losing a father is terrifying, forget about being criticized during that time. A strong mindset is the only thing that allows people like Cristiano Ronaldo to fight back, be resilient, and emerge even stronger.
Is having a strong mindset is the key to success?
When I delved deeper on this topic, I came across a study conducted in 2012 on the association between stress perception, health, and mortality revealed that people who go through high levels of stress are at increased risk of death, but only if they think that stress is harmful to them. Those who go through high levels of stress but don't see it as harmful are no more likely to die. Then the famous growth and fixed mindset theory provided by renowned American psychologist Carol Dweck made sense as it sheds light on the consequences of thinking that your intelligence or personality is something you can develop, as opposed to something that is a fixed, deep-seated trait. Her book talks about how one can truly change their mindset and reach their full potential. Her theory of growth on fixed and growth mindset has become the benchmark for almost all the research conducted regarding mindset.
Athletes are distinguished by examining their growth and fixed mindset.
Four distinct athletic mindsets are used as a parameter to measure which athletes are likely to be professional.
High-growth/low-fixed
Low-growth/low-fixed
Low-growth/high-fixed
High-growth/ high-fixed
High-growth/Low-fixed mindsets were more likely to participate at higher levels of sports performance than athletes with the other three mindsets, and this predictive effect was mediated by greater athletic coping skills.
After learning about the benefits of positive thinking and a growth mindset with examples and scientific proof, I realized that a growth mindset is key to success. When combined with optimism, it helps people believe in their ability to improve and face life with confidence. This approach allows individuals to reach their full potential, achieve their goals in studies, work, or personal growth, and keep progressing for long-term success.