Go your way with confidence — three tips for mental power
Have you ever imagined a life without doubts or destructive thoughts? What if you were always courageous to implement what is important to you? In this blog, I'll show you what fulfilled people, successful leaders and top athletes do to be mentally strong and focused so they can achieve their goals. The good news: There are tools that each of us can use to be mentally strong. In this blog, I'll share them with you.
More and more people are approaching me with challenges around mental strength. Very often, it's about differentiation: how do I separate myself from ever-increasing demands? How do I stay with myself despite bullying colleagues at work? Just as often, it's about focus: How do I focus on what's important without being constantly distracted? How do I deal with doubts and self-critical thoughts in important situations?
In asking these questions, I primarily use tools for thought control. We have all read about the «happiest» people in the world, monks who meditate. Meditation is a form of mind control. But what is it all about? Much like when you go to the gym and train your muscles, for example, it's just as important to train your mind as well. Mental training is about questions like:
💭 Do you know your thoughts, thought patterns and where they come from?
🕹️ Can you actively influence and even control your thoughts?
🥷 Can you think away doubts and replace them with powerful thoughts?
Tip 1: Know your thoughts 💭 📖
The 1-Week Thought Journaling Challenge
Even though we «hear» our thoughts incessantly, it's surprising how little we work with them and use them to our advantage. It's as if we have no control over what happens in our minds. Counselors recommend meditation, for example, to shut down thoughts. In my experience, this works for very few. I, on the other hand, recommend that you mindfully observe your thoughts: What thoughts are you thinking in what situation? Which thoughts are repetitive or particularly persistent? When do doubts arise? Which people trigger negative thoughts in you, which people make you "shine"? Write down your thoughts during at least one week (the longer the better). What patterns do you recognize in your thoughts? Are there situations in which certain types of thoughts, such as destructive thoughts, occur more frequently. Why?
Tip 2: Control what you think 💭 🕹️
Key situations and power thoughts
Did you know that you can't feel without thinking first? It's important to understand that it's your thoughts in a situation that cause you to feel doubt or anxiety, for example. Thoughts such as «I won't be able to do this» or «I'm not prepared enough» lead to doubts or uncomfortable feelings that degrade your performance. Conversely, positive thoughts such as «This is my destiny, I can do this» lead to feelings that are positive (such as dopamine output). That's why it's central that in key situations that are important to you, such as before an exam or competition, before an investor presentation, or when you confess your love, you actively control your thoughts before and during. Specifically:
List key situations
Formulate your power thoughts
Practice thinking your power thoughts and recognize their emotional impact on you
Actively think your power thoughts before and during key situations
Tip 3: Eliminate your saboteur 💭🥷
Positive adversary
In addition to tip 2, you may realize that you have a mental saboteur within you. An inner evildoer who appears especially in challenging situations and makes you know mentally that you are not enough, can't do it and never will be able to. The difference to tip 2? These thought patterns are only negative and limiting. In most cases, your inner saboteur is fueled by past experiences, doubts, and fears and has been wired into your brain as a «habit» (or neurophysiologically has become a dominant association). Therefore, it is important that you recognize and mentally shut down your saboteur. With more practice, you can build a positive counterpart with empowering thoughts (as in tip 2), personify it with an image, and then bring it out when the saboteur needs to go away. In this video I explain the «mental players» step by step.
These questions and tools are used by successful leaders, top athletes and people who are mentally strong. This form of mind control is a start to further strengthen your inner power. With it, you will be able to stand out in difficult situations and focus on your goals. And - ultimately, to go your way full of self-confidence!
More resources on the topic:
Work book «Mentale Stärke» (available in German)