Learning is a lifelong skill that sets us up for success in any pursuit. Luckily, you don’t have to always be right, but you have to be willing to seek knowledge, change your mind, and grow from experiences.
That approach encompasses the growth mindset. There are many times in your training and racing when you can leverage this skill.
Think back to a race that didn’t go as successfully as you hoped. Did you miss your finishing time? Did you fall short of beating your main competitor? Was this race a failure?
We talk a lot about goal setting and having incremental goals. With a growth mindset, you are able to reframe your performance to be less about outcomes and more about the process. Instead of thinking of the finish, think about the paces you were able to keep, or the consistency in your training, or even the fact that you showed up to the starting line.
Reframing your perspectives allows you to move on and continue to improve. And we we all know that consistency is key!
As we discussed in the last episode, many skills cross over between sport, life, and business. The growth mindset is precisely one of those skills. When you learn to master and train yourself in the flexibility of your mindset, you’ll see far reaching impacts in all aspects of your life.
Today’s guest is an expert in the mental performance field and has a lot to share about the growth mindset.
Dr. Alison Pope-Rhodius Encourages the Growth Mindset
Alison Pope-Rhodius is a professor of Applied Sport and Performance Psychology and a Program Director at Holy Names University in California. She is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant and the co-editor of Excelling in Sport Psychology: Planning, Preparing, and Executing Applied Work.
As an expert in this field, Alison got to travel the world working with elite archers and coaches, culminating in working with the U.S. team and U.K. number one archer at the 2004 Olympics. She has been an active member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) for many years and was made a Fellow in 2018.
Alison brings an approachable understanding of what the growth mindset is and how athletes can use it to their advantage. In our conversation, we talk about:
- Details of what a growth mindset is
- Common pitfalls to avoid
- How to recognize when you are in a fixed mindset
- Tips for practicing this technique
Alison also shares about the power of controlling the elements that you can, and letting go of the rest. The impact is so powerful, as you can hear her describe in this clip:
I hope you will enjoy this podcast with Alison and gain some inspiration. Check out the full episode below.
Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or Google Play.
Links & Resources from the Show:
- Follow Alison on Twitter
- Read more on the growth mindset
- Additional podcast on mastering your mindset
- Alison’s new program, Applied Sport & Performance Psychology
- Get our free mindset email series!
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