Part of my passion for performance and psychology comes from a fascination in how creative a person can be through mental practice. This creativity is inherent amongst us all and is simply displayed in different ways. It is no co-incidence that positive outcomes occur through positive thoughts and similarly negative experiences happen more often to those who think negatively. This is a matter of perception, when you are fixated on what could go wrong you are subconsciously searching for that negative outcome. This, in turn, blinds you from seeing any opportunities or positive outcomes. I have seen this all play out in my own life experiencing both extremes and in turn, have seen results that align with my creative thoughts and beliefs.
Allow me to offer some context...
When I completed school, I was faced with a choice of where I wish to take my next step. Furthering my education was a non-negotiable and something I certainly didn't protest, however, the field of education that was available to me did not excite me. At this point you could say that the passion I was building for sports and performance psychology was growing however studying that at university was not an option. Out of the fear of being completely aimless, I enrolled in a Marketing Degree which, at the time, helped steady my course forward but did not give me the sense of direction I was after. I felt out of place for my first year and was not a big fan of the person I became. The Covid-19 virus hit in 2020 and interrupted my studies, like many people, being isolated at home was not a conducive environment for re-building a positive mindset or self-belief. My tendency to overthink was magnified in a situation where being productive relied on intrinsic motivation and the setting of goals. I needed a change of mindset and I needed it fast, before my way of thinking became ingrained as a habit. I decided to open up some more to family and friends about how I felt but more importantly I made a clear decision to stop worrying about my future and instead keep my eyes focused on the present and peeled for any opportunities. This mentality switch was not easy but I committed to it and I believed it was right for me. I felt the weight lift off my shoulders each and every day that passed where I stayed focused on my next step instead of a "potential" future one. With this change, doubts became opportunities, pessimism shifted to optimism, my self-talk became positive but most importantly... I was excited at the prospect of an "unknown" future. A future without expectations that gave me the freedom to focus on the now. The change in direction didn't occur immediately but for the first time in a long time, I wasn't bothered either way. What happened next was interesting, and only something I can write about now as I look back on it. Positive events started occurring more often for me with the highlight being an unlikely meeting with a former golf teacher and mentor which lead to a job opportunity working at my former school as a mentor and coach. Fast forward two years and I now work abroad managing and coaching some top young golf talents and building my network and experience along the way.
This was no co-incidence and looking back, I can see how and why it played out the way it did. It all came down to my perception and my readiness to change. I was finally able to see the opportunities in front of me and was ready to accept change regardless of outcome. I can safely say that every aspect of my life that I have approached with a positive outlook has resulted in positive outcomes. What does not change however are that there are opportunities Infront of us, and our ability to see those opportunities and take advantage of them relies on our mental perspective. This change in mindset does not guarantee anything, it simply helps you be more present and open to positive change.
Life offers us experiences, highs and lows, peaks and troughs. Enjoy the highs but be grateful for the lows as they are often what leads us to the next door of opportunity. No one person that has achieved a high level of performance can say that they have not experienced failure. Most of these people will say that it is the times they have struggled that have helped them appreciate the times of success. If there is one message I hope you can take with you, its that your creativity as a human being is immense, it gives you the freedom to manifest your own reality. To achieve whatever goals you set for yourself. When someone truly believes in their own creative power they are not bothered by when or how they achieve their goals, they simply achieve them no matter what.