Your Past Does Not Equal the Future

Posted on: May 13th, 2015 by Dr. Spencer Baron No Comments

Positive attitude

Secrets of the mental game

Ever make a mistake that resulted in you harboring the animosity, anger and frustration way longer than you should have? Or, you’ve made similar mistakes repetitively and wonder why you haven’t learned yet? Or, maybe you’re superstitious and feel cursed? Having treated athletes who experience all of the above, most work very hard on those issues that will move them from worst to first!

Perfect example:

The history of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets reveals three, 20-inning battles that ended in a loss. Saturday night’s 2 to 1 victory over the Cardinals took over 6 hours of play. Shall we rewrite the colloquialism to read, “The fourth time’s a charm”? Someone made sure the past did not equal the future.

  • How hard do you work on making sure previously-failed business deals don’t result in a future of the same sour experiences?
  • How are your personal relationships after a string of disasters?
  • Does your child display the same offensive character, despite your disciplining?
  • How many attempts have you made at losing weight, quitting smoking, eating better, joining a gym, or completing a task on your “To Do” list?

Have you ever heard? “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result”

It’s all about the strategy! Your approach toward a task can be as important as the end result.

I’ve been a part of a consistently losing team that replaces all the coaches and staff and, yet, still loses.  Other teams just replace all of the players . . . no change, still lose, sometimes worse!

So what is it?

Aside from the many variables that are exclusive to a particular circumstance, there are only a few remedies:

1)      Approach the task with a completely revamped strategy. You must be acutely aware of what didn’t work the first of couple times, as failure provides enormously valuable lessons.

2)      Ask for a second opinion – a coach, teacher, mentor, or friend will have a different view of the approach, good or bad, and they may add a perspective you haven’t thought of.

3)      Read a book on the subject.

4)      Watch a video.

This next one is the MOST important:

5)      Believe in what you are doing and that there is no doubt that you will achieve what you set out to do. Whatever you center your attention on will expand. Have extreme focus and clarity on what you want in your future. Be absolutely clear that all is on track and your goal WILL happen.

Please comment on your own “failure to success” experiences and share how this information will benefit a family member or friend.

 

Doc B

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