Check out this video on the Fear Mindset vs. Attack Mindset.
Fear can be paralyzing.
Fear of mistakes, fear of failure, fear of letting others down, or fear of not meeting expectations; Whatever it is, it holds us back from just trusting our capabilities and attacking what we want.
In most sports, and other areas of life, it pays to have an attacking mindset:
- In sports like hockey, soccer, and basketball, this often means taking the puck or ball and attacking the net
- While in tennis, golf, baseball, or softball, this means not being afraid to fail and fully committing to the shot
- In life, this means having that important conversation, putting yourself out there, or doing anything else related to going after your dreams.
Follow these 3 Steps to go from a Fear Mindset to an Attacking Mindset:
STEP 1: Differentiate Fear vs. Attack vs. Reckless
You want to move from a fear mindset to an attack mindset, but you don’t want to end up being reckless. Here is a breakdown of the key traits within each of the 3 mental states:
1. Fear Mental State: Afraid to make mistakes, doubting ability, worrying about results.
2. Attack Mental State: Willing to make mistakes, trusting capability, being in the moment.
3. Reckless Mental State: Carelessness, over-compensating.
We suggest you write out what each of these mental states looks like for you to make it clear how you want to show up.
STEP 2: Going from Fear to Attack
To go from the fear to attack mindset, you have to align your thoughts, feeling and actions. The following two concepts are key to helping you get that alignment:
1. Attack Mistakes > Fear Mistakes: You are going to make mistakes regardless of what mindset you are in, but the attack mindset will generally not be as harmful of a result, not look as bad, and it will serve as a learning opportunity.
2. Thinking Long-Term: The fear mindset could be better in the short-term, but the attack mindset is better in the long-term.
While reading this, you might cognitively understand these points, but you need to have the emotional feeling to match or the behaviours won’t come consistently. So don’t just read this and nod your head. Make sure you reflect and look at your game; Look at when you are playing in the attack mindset vs fear mindset. Truly reflect on which mindset serves you better.
The goal is to feel yourself break through the fear and fully arrive in the attack mindset.
STEP 3: Lock it In
To lock in the attack mental state consistently, you need to be aware, set a high standard for yourself, and have the tools to get into the state.
Awareness comes from reading this and reflecting – not just once, but consistently.
You should be aiming to be in the attack mindset 95% of the time or more. It’s not about perfection, but about doing your best and being fully committed to the attack mental state.
The tools to develop and use to help get you consistently into this state include:
- Unique Alter Ego
- 10 Sec Reset Routine
- Personalized Scorecard
- Detailed Imagery Script
If you have any questions, want 1-on-1 coaching to work on your mental tools, or you are interested in mental performance coaching program, contact us today.
Blair has over 13 years of experience as a Professional Dancer, Assistant Dance Captain & Cast Manager, as well as an additional 17 years of training. Over the last 3 decades, she has lived and experienced first hand the highest of highs & lowest of lows that come with pursuing a career in the Performing Arts.
Sean Mahoney is a member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), and a Master’s candidate in the Sport and Performance Psychology program at the University of Denver. For as long as he can remember, Sean has been fascinated by human performance and how to gain an edge over the competition. For most of his athletic career, he focused on the physical aspect of performance but neglected the mental. Because of this, he struggled with performance anxiety, focus issues, and limiting beliefs pertaining to confidence and self-doubt. His lack of focus on optimizing his mental game prevented him from reaching his full potential.
As a former member of McMaster University’s women’s soccer team, Emilie intimately understands the demands and challenges athletes face on and off the field. Although she encountered many challenges as a high-level athlete, particularly struggling with self-doubt and overthinking, Emilie was able to make a remarkable transformation when she began to embrace the principles of sports psychology.
Danielle Hanus, MA
Monica Russell, MA
