Coach’s $0.02: The RIGHT Mindset and Mentality to Lifting

There are generally positive or negative mindsets. There are also high or low arousal mentalities. Knowing which mindset and mentality you are can help you optimize your results. Being fully aware of and in control of your thoughts and emotions will have a positive affect on your performance.

Positive Mindset

  • Optimistic outlook to most or every aspect of training and competition
  • “Glass half-full” approach to anything that happens in the gym or at a competition
  • Takes full ownership when things don’t go their way and turns setbacks into learning lessons/spins into positive outcome
  • Hopeful

Negative Mindset

  • Pessimistic outlook to most or every aspect of training and competiton
  • “Glass half-empty” approach to anything that happens in the gym or at a competition
  • Makes self-depricating comments and excuses for why something didn’t go the way they wanted. Defeated by setbacks.
  • Hopelessness

High Arousal Mentality

  • Gets psyched up for every set; outwardly emotional
  • Screams, yells, gets slapped on the back etc. for every set
  • Aggressive approach to most or every aspect to training.

Low Arousal Mentality

  • “Cool as a cucumber”/ very little to no outward emotion
  • Quiet training/general chillness throughout workouts and competitions
  • Robotic approach to most or ever aspect to training

Everyone has aspects of all 4 of these characteristics. You do not want to let the negative overpower your positive mindset. The positive mindset should overpower the negative in such a way that there is a realistic yet hopeful mindset to lifting. Being critical enough of yourself so you see your weaknesses yet positive enough to get better. Be hopeful no matter the situation or setback. Move forward to perform better.

When it comes to mentality, you want to be able to be aroused enough to lift the weight in front of you, but not so highly aroused you become blind to everything. You don’t want to make a mistake because you’re so emotional. On the otherhand, being too chill may cause you to be too laissez faire to training that you lose focus/awareness. Mentality is about balance. Have an on/off switch.

In my experience, it’s better to be positive and have low arousal for the majority of your training/competitions. You need to be able to be aware of your surroundings and incredibly hopeful no matter the situation. This allows you to be self-aware, make good decisions, and minimize mistakes for long-term success.