Over the past several weeks, I have had the pleasure of working out with my son. Adding to the joy of hanging out with my all-time favorite person on the planet, I have gotten to know a young man who trains with us a few days a week. The young man’s name is Alex.
Alex is a bright, polite, engaging and respectable young man. Actually, Alex is a much better person than any of those adjectives that I used to describe him indicate. More importantly, Alex is a young man whom his parents should be very proud of.
Now as much as I would love to spend the entire time extolling the virtues of Alex that is not my intent. I mention Alex today primarily because Alex has an issue that seems to be keeping him from achieving his goals.
Alex wants to play on his high school’s varsity soccer team. However, whenever Alex talks about making the team, he utters words that belittle his unlimited potential and vast ability.
I’m not going to even repeat the damaging words Alex uses when he is training not because those words are profane but simply because those words are negative. Rather than detailing every adverse word, I think that it is sufficient to say that Alex has a mindset predicament.
Law of Attraction
Alex has all the physical and intellectual tools to be an excellent soccer player. He has great endurance, good speed, he’s strong, bright and he has a great work ethic. Unfortunately, Alex doesn’t believe in himself. Subsequently, when we are doing drills, Alex often makes far more mistakes than he should.
Alex is not alone in this regard. Many of us suffer just as Alex does by making more mistakes at work, at school, at home, etc. than we should. Like Alex, many of us unknowingly allow the Law of Attraction to work against us.
In case you did not know, the Law of Attraction is a rule which infers that “like attracts like”. Thus, when we focus our energy on positive or negative thoughts, the outcomes are corresponding positive or negative results. I believe I’m good so my energy, actions and thoughts are used to be good.
Alex doubts his worthiness to make the varsity soccer team, to play meaningful minutes and/or be in the starting varsity lineup. The outcome of Alex’s doubt manifests itself when he makes needless errors during our training sessions. Alex thinks negatively and his performance, actions are subsequently hindered by his negative thoughts.
Mindset
Fortunately, for Alex, you and I, there is a way to make our dreams and goals a reality even when we have previously sabotaged our chances of success. The key for Alex and any of us who suffer from the negative impact of the Law of Attraction is to change our mindset.
Alex has to understand that where you are today is not the same location that you have to be tomorrow. Improving is possible for everyone! Those who are at the top today don’t have a lifetime right to maintain that position.
Those who are at the bottom today have the ability to emancipate themselves from the last place position. In the words of the musical artist Drake, if Alex would change his mindset, the outcomes like his performance in training would change. Alex might soon find himself singing the lyrics with Drake, “started from the bottom now we’re here”.
It cannot be overstated, if you or your child are like Alex, you can achieve more of your goals once you commit to changing your mindset.
The Past…Run From It or Learn From It
Too often people mistake the past as the future. I’m trying to get Alex to understand that “I’m not good at soccer” simply means that I have room for improvement. “I’m not good at soccer” does not mean that improving is hopeless nor does it mean that I can’t be markedly better by the time of varsity tryouts.
If your child has not had success in the classroom, they need to change their mindset. “I’ve never been a good student” means up until that moment you have not achieved in the classroom. “I’ve never been a good student” does not mean that with direction, renewed focus, commitment and exceptional teaching that you can’t graduate with honors.
If you or your child find yourself doubting your ability in any area, a mindset change is necessary. “I’m not college material, I am unqualified for a promotion or I am not management material” simply chronicles what you have or haven’t done in the past. Not being college material, promotion ready or management material in the past cannot determine your future station in life unless you make the decision to allow the past to control both the past and future.
Next Time
In the next post, I will share with you some things that I have recommended to Alex to help him make the Law of Attraction work for him. I will share with you the importance of one word and share with you some tools that will give you the opportunity to reach your goals and objectives.
I don’t know whether Alex will be in the starting line-up when the season begins. Whether he is or not in the starting lineup is inconsequential. What matters, what I expect is that Alex will have a different mindset by the time soccer season begins and that he will use these mindset tools to no longer sabotage his own unlimited potential.
Finally, on a selfish note, I expect Alex to be playing for his high school varsity team when the season begins. I plan to be in the stands congratulating his parents on the wonderful job they have done raising him and to be among the fans cheering him on. Let’s Go Alex!
Does your child suffer from negative thinking? Is there anything that you have done as a parent that might contribute to their impeded mindset?