Tip #52: Utilize an Athlete Mentality

It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.”
-Vince Lombardi

Athletes possess a unique set of skills that enable them to physically and mentally push themselves beyond the normal limits of endurance. They are able to set goals and singularly focus on attaining those goals. They have trained their minds and bodies to push through doubt, pain, and fatigue. Athletes refuse to accept limits and failure. When they face obstacles they draw from their internal reserves to meet and overcome the challenge.

Now, think of a problem in your life. Focus on the challenge. Once you have developed a solution, set your sights on implementation. If you run up against an obstacle, use the determination of an athlete to keep pushing forward. Commit to your accomplishment by eliminating failure as an option. Be stubborn, be flexible, and be tireless. You will cross the finish line!

Athletes hone their talent, skills, and attitude to accomplish their goals. By adopting this athlete mentality, we can learn to never give up. We can become fierce competitors in the arena of life.

Take Home Message:

Approach challenges with focus, pride, determination, and confidence. Utilize an athlete mentality – choose PERSEVERANCE!

“I played sports most of my life. Thankfully, I believe my athlete mentality gave me my competitive edge, and helped me keep a strong, stubborn front against the wave of worries that were put up against me. It would have been easy to drown in these worries. I luckily recognized that. Yes, sometimes I got a little angry, but I didn’t wear angled eye-brows and pursed lips everyday. That seemed like a way to let cancer get the better part of me, and I didn’t plan to let it win even one quarter of the game.”
-Christine Novotny (featured in Perseverance)

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Perseverance beautifully organizes reminder after reminder that every moment is precious. As a long-time cancer thriver, I would not trade for the resources I was able to tap into by looking at the fragility of my own life. Perseverance serves as a tender wake-up reminder that the present is the future we worried about in the past.

— Marion Luna Brem, author of The 7 Greatest Truths about Successful Women Read more


We persevere