Our mindset is one of the most powerful tools to help us achieve goals. I’m currently re-reading ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey. Strange choice since it was first published 30 years ago. But its just as timely now as in 1989. I’d recently listened to Ben Bergeron’s ‘Chasing Excellence’ podcast where he explains how he uses it in his Crossfit coaching career. Limiting phrases and reactive language remove responsibility from our actions. When we say “I can’t” do something what that really means is “I won’t”. And who would ever say to themselves, or anyone else, they won’t do something? 

Let’s talk can’t vs won’t. Take one of my past posts here on my near miss in reaching my marathon goal in 2018. I’d been training for a 4:30 marathon since my personal best was 4:31. I went into that race thinking I was ready. Guess what? I ran exactly a 4:31 again. Now, I run only one marathon a year so that was disappointing. What I did do was take all the information I had on what I did to prepare for that race when planning the next one. Looking at my preparation I found that I approached things in training would make me faster as things that I had to do, not that I got to do, which set me up for a negative mindset. Covey says language like “I can’t” or “I have to” is reactive. What about thinking proactively? Instead of “I have to do 10 by 400s” for my speed workout, I started thinking “I get to do 10 by 400s today.” That was a huge shift in mindset as I trained for my 2019 race. The entire experience, from training and then completing the race, was a much more positive experience because of how I approached it. And, yes, I crushed that 4:31 goal. 

Imagine using this in your everyday life. Are you reactive to things that you encounter? How often do you say “I have to” about things you do? I have to pick up the kids at school, I have to go to the gym or I have to work today. What if you reframed that mindset into “I get to?” That is a huge shift in approach. People who get to do things appreciate them for what they are and how they help push them toward their goals. I find when I think “get to” I’m a lot more positive a person to be around. Try it for a week, catch yourself when you start thinking reactive and shift that around to being proactive in your approach toward a goal.