GROWTH MINDSET in Soccer

Unlocking your full potential by understanding that you have two possible mindsets: a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset.

One must have a growth mindset to have the courage to discover your God given gifts and talents and develop them.

     “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, ‘I’m possible.’”                    – Audrey Hepburn

The body achieves what the mind believes. Believe in yourself and the power you must make anything possible. 

The key to discovering more about ourselves, or successfully conquering a fear to move forward, is sitting right between our two ears. Yes, the mind is incredibly powerful. But it can be a double-edge sword. The stories we tell ourselves, the things we come to believe about ourselves, and the ways we talk to ourselves can either be the primary limiting factor holding us back, or the key to blossoming.

                The mind is everything. What you think you become

Stamford researchers say there are two mindsets: fixed or growth mindsets

In a fixed mindset, one believes that their abilities—their intelligence, talents, who they are now —are fixed and static. This can be because they believe they have no more to learn. It can be because they are comfortable and have grown complacent. Or they have become afraid to challenge themselves to more forward change themselves to keep pace in an everchanging world. These people document their intelligence and talents rather than working to develop and improve them. They reject their inherent ability to transform and grow.

Fixed mindsets can skill development and growth, which can be disastrous for health and happiness over time.

You have a fixed mindset If you believe things about yourself like…

  • It’s hard for me to lose weight; I don’t have the willpower.
  • I’m not a natural athlete, I can barely walk let alone run.
  • I’m not creative.
  • I don’t like certain things about me, but this is just how it is.

It’s evident that those fixed mindsets will lead you to avoid experiences where you might feel like a failure. That might reinforce the belief that “you can’t”. As a result, you talk yourself out of pursuing transformation and growth. You find yourself wasting energy on finding reasons not to do something, and then stressing about not doing it, then on taking positive transformational actions that will put you on the road to get you where you want to be

In soccer we view challenges as opportunities.

In a growth mindset, you understand that your talents and abilities can be developed and discovered through effort, dedication and persistence. You believe you can discover more about yourself and handle life’s challenges by discovering more about yourself. It is alwaysabout the journey, because the destination will always be ahead of us as we grow and evolve to be able to meet new challenges and unexplored horizons.

  • Become Smarter: When people believe they can become smarter, they allow themselves to not know something, and are excited by opportunities to learn.
  • Improve Oneself: They realize that their effort influences their success. The only way to get somewhere is to put one foot in front of the other, and then again, and again. You can’t get good at something without being bad at it first. Embrace being bad! But through effort, you will achieve ‘good’, and then ‘great’!
  • Pursue Smart Goals: Put in the time, leading to higher achievement. You can accomplish just about anything, but you must have movement. Without movement, your journey is over before it ever began. But also move with structure and purpose: a sustainable habit-based approach.  Set achievable goals, reach them, and then set new goals. Again. It’s all about the journey!
  • Smile even if you don’t’ feel like it -break from negative thoughts- realize you are human.

Your brain forms new connections throughout life that allow it to adapt when you are faced with new situations or a new environment. You can trust in that, and in doing so trust in yourself and your ability to learn and achieve positive desired change.

 Once You Start Moving, Focus on the Process

You can become more creative, intelligent, more athletic, more artistic and more successful and happier person by focusing on the process to improve not the actual outcome. The outcome will come, if you work towards it. But growth is always incremental, never over -night. Focusing on the process instead of solely whether we reached a goal alleviates unfair expectations we put on ourselves. As a coach I will tell my players to focus on the Process – vs win or lose – If one loses a game, figure out why you lost, and show up at the next practice ready to work on fixing those areas. When you become too focused on the result you end up not wanting to achieve, and you can program yourself into a negative mindset.

It doesn’t matter if you fail. Because you can only fail when you try and trying is the only way to accomplish anything. What matters is what you do after you fail.

         Process goals are all about the process. They are about doing the right thing, regardless of the outcome, knowing that the right activities will lead you to ultimate success. Every day you work to get better is a successful day. Highlight progress, not perfection. What’s one thing that I can do today, right now, to improve. Builds a positive CAN-DO attitude,

Build your identity by embracing the fact that sustainable, long-lasting change starts with not focusing on negative results, Instead, adopt the willingness to discover the possibilities for transformation by embracing a growth mindset. 

Follow your heart and desire to discover yourself. Embrace change and develop it to enjoy a positive and fuller life. Embrace life with a growth mindset, discovering the possibilities Strive to bring out best selves. And utilize process goals that are achievable with Desire, Discipline, Dedication, Determination—. 

 COACH ED WEIL

UNITED SOCCER COACHES