Recently, an article published by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, written by Maureen Breeze and Sue Schimmel, tackled one of the most talked-about concepts in sports today: the growth mindset.
And here’s the thing: Most athletes — and honestly most adults — really don’t know what that even means. Let’s start there. Then we’ll talk about how it relates to you as an athlete.
Summary of the Good Stuff (from the article)
At its very essence, the article defines:
• A growth mindset = belief that your abilities can be improved through effort, learning, and persistence.
• A fixed mindset = belief that your abilities are static (i.e., you’ve got them or you don’t).
Athletes with a growth mindset will typically embrace challenges, use failures as opportunities to learn, and remain engaged even when faced with difficult situations. On the other hand, Athletes with a fixed Mindset tend to avoid taking risks, fear failing, and protect their perceived Identity rather than focus on continually improving.
Big misconception: “try harder” works
One additional key takeaway from the article is that a growth mindset is not simply trying harder or being positive. This is where many athletes miss the mark.
You may have heard:
• “Work harder!”
• “Stay positive!”
• “Don’t beat yourself up!”
That’s not enough because true growth has nothing to do solely with effort. True growth involves:
• Learning
• Adjustments
• Being honest about what’s not working
Mental Masters Athlete perspective: when ego comes first
Now that we’re moving beyond the basics, at Mental Masters Athlete, we don’t simply ask:
“do you have a growth mindset?”
We ask: “who are you when things aren’t going well?” Because that’s when your mindset truly shows itself.
• When you strike out with runners on base
• When you get benched
• When someone replaces you
• When you fail in front of others
That’s when.
And in that moment, your brain is saying: “what does this mean about me?”
Which is precisely when athletes transition to a fixed mindset.
The one important thing that matters
Recognize your thoughts
The authors of the article identify awareness as the first step.
We agree, but we also want to give you something tangible to work with.
Here’s what to do:
When things don’t go right, ask:
• “What just happened?”
• “What can I learn from that?”
• “What adjustments can I make next?”
Not:
• “Why am I so bad?”
• “What is wrong with me?”
That makes all the difference.
How this relates to the mental checklist
This is why we teach our pre-game mental checklist. Mindset is not created in theory. It’s created in the moments.
When you face adversity, you need something to hold onto:
1. Reset (breathe)
2. Remember who you are
3. Check your state
4. Refocus on your role
5. Visualize success
6. Focus on process goals
7. Be ready to reset again
8. Stay grounded in gratitude
That’s not simply thinking positively. That’s training your response to pressure.
What successful Athletes really do
The article states:
• They learn from setbacks.
• They focus on their approach and effort, and they prioritize mastering their craft over achieving results.
We agree, but let’s make it real.
Successful athletes:
• Watch video and actually adjust their technique.
• Track their progress and evaluate themselves.
• Compete against themselves rather than just their peers.
• Will continue fighting through uncomfortable moments.
They don’t just work harder; they improve.
Last point: Growth Mindset is something you develop over time
You don’t “have” a growth mindset.
You develop it moment-by-moment.
Each time something doesn’t go according to plan, you have two choices:
• Protect your self-image
• Grow your game
Those who ultimately succeed in the long term? They choose growth – no matter how uncomfortable.
Ready for some real help developing this?
If you want to:
• Perform under pressure more effectively
• Recover faster after setbacks
• Develop lasting confidence
Now is the time to begin developing your mental skills the exact same way that you develop your physical skills.
Because developing a strong mindset isn’t something you simply talk about. It’s something you practice.