It’s not what’s happening to you that matter, but how you react to it. This is important when you come across unexpected issues or problems you are not mentally prepared for. There are a few ways to strengthen yourself mentally, and become the winner that you deserve to be.
Focus on the future
Whatever challenges you are facing, focus on the future instead of the past. Instead of worrying for who did what and who to blame, keep full focus on your future goals and what you have to do to achieve them. Create a clear vision of your goals and decide how to take the necessary steps on the way. To reach any long-term goals it is also useful to set up some short-term goals.
Find the solution
Whenever you are faced with difficulties or setbacks, find the answers in the solutions instead of getting caught up in the problems. Think and talk about how to overcome your difficulties rather than dwell on the issues over and over again. Solutions are positive and problems are negative. The moment you decide to start thinking in terms of solution you become a different person, who thinks constructive thoughts and is more positive.
See the positive side
Assume that there is something good in everything that happens – in every problem there is also a possibility!
“Life is a series of experiences, each of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure help us in our marching onward.” – Henry Ford
Sometimes it may not be all that easy to understand what is going on and why things are happening, but if you have an optimistic outlook to begin with, you will find it easier to see the positive side even if it is hard to see from the start. In some cases you need to actively seek it.
What have you learned from it?
Look for the lesson to learn. Think that what happened didn’t happen by coincidence, but by a special reason. Don’t dig yourself a hole, failing is a part of progress and to be able to get better you need to allow for mistakes to happen. Learn from them and move on to bigger things.
The world would never have known about Michael Jordan if he stopped playing basket ball after not being selected to join his high school team. But he wanted more, and it is a master’s signature to constantly work on improving their weaknesses. But the great talent was there all along. At age 21 he became a professional player and from that day on his career went straight up. Jordan led his Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles, won countless titles and holds a gazillion records. Surely you’ll remember the Dream Team and the Olympic gold medals.
On a question of success and failure Jordan replied;
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." One of the greatest athletes in history has spoken and what can you learn from this? Keep in mind that this guy has probably failed a million times more than you and still you think he’s better than you. So failure does not make us losers, failure creates winners.
It’s easy to forget that the road to success is often filled with failure, but you need to learn how to handle them and move on. You can’t gain anything in life without loosing a little. A positive mental attitude is a must if you want to succeed in your sport. Observe elite athletes and learn from their good and bad sides. Then apply what you've learned from them to you own life, and stop thinking like a loser.
By:
Isa Olsson
Content originally written for Fitmarker.com -- © 2011 All Rights Reserved. Images copyright of their respective owners. 
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