Are You Able to Use Your Powerful Mind to Achieve What You Want?

 

Be careful how you use that boundless mind.

Photo by Alex Blăjan on Unsplash

Have you ever watched yourself purposely use your mind to achieve the desired result?

For example, you’re interviewing for a position you know you are qualified for, yet the competition is fierce. You present yourself as the best possible hiree this company could have.

You ace the interview, and the job is yours. Success achieved.

Conversely, the opposite is also true.

This mighty mind and our psyche are capable of eradicating any possibility of getting that job.

It’s entirely up to us how we use the limitless power of our minds.

"If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place." --Lao Tzu, ancient Chinese philosopher.

How I allowed my mind to clobber me 

I am adept at using my mind to convince myself that I’m not as skilled as several of my pickleball opponents. This mind, or rather, my use of my mind, can and did defeat me.

Yesterday I played in my pickleball league. This is an all-women league, and for the most part, all participants are caring, considerate people. And most of them, very competitive.

We’re all ranked at approximately the same skill level, although some are slightly better than others.

I was partnered with my friend Julie, a natural athlete and a better player than me. Usually, that is what one wants in a partner.

Our opponents were two other pals — again, better than me — on a par with Julie.

I allowed myself to be intimidated by our opponents, and I didn’t play well. I also felt terrible that Julie got “stuck” with me, which added to my angst.

I was frustrated internally. And, apparently — outwardly, as well, as my friends kept reassuring me I was playing just fine. I wasn’t.

Re-learning what I already know

Today a few of us played pickleball for fun, no league pressures. Julie gave me a pep talk reminding me that I’m a decent player.

I explained to her how I allowed my mind to mess with my confidence, and I knew from the start the results of that game would not be pleasant.

Julie reminded me that I am better than that. Better than allowing my insecurity to take over my mind.

She is right.

I have raised two boys, and that was exactly what I taught them when they were playing sports, applying for a job, or any challenge they may have faced— that the mind rules the roost. What they believed they would become. 

“We become what we think about.” This quote by American motivational speaker Earl Nightingale was one I learned over 35 years ago during my younger years while on a journey to discover what I wanted from life. 

Thank you, Julie, for the reminder of such a fundamental law of life.

You may be thinking — who doesn’t know that? And I agree that if we’ve lived long enough, most of us know we are the result of our thoughts. 

However, let me be the warning that when in a situation where your confidence may not be at the highest level — you, too, may forget how gifted, skilled and unique you are!

I allowed myself to forget this basic rule. Lesson learned. Rather lesson re-learned.