Embracing Self-Kindness, Mindfulness, Resilience, and a Growth Mindset
At Northern Lights Athletic Club, we like to talk about four powerful pieces of personal development: self-kindness, mindfulness, resilience, and a growth mindset. Each plays a crucial role in our well-being and helps us navigate life's challenges. A whole book could be written on each of these topics, but I will touch on them each briefly. Maybe we will expand on each in the future.
Self-kindness involves treating ourselves with the same compassion and understanding that we would offer to a friend. It means recognizing our worth and being gentle with ourselves, especially during difficult times. Athletes need to learn and encourage positive self-talk. It is important for athletes to replace self-criticism with encouraging and supportive language as if they were talking to a friend or team-mate. They should celebrate their efforts and achievements, no matter how small. Athletes need to learn to forgive. It is important to let go of past mistakes and forgive themselves. Understand that everyone makes errors, and it's a part of the learning process.
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present and engaged in the current moment, without judgment. It helps us become more aware of our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings, leading to a greater sense of peace and clarity. At Northern Lights Athletic Club, we stress importance on staying in the present and not thinking about all the things that could go bad or that have gone bad. That is out of our control. By focusing on deep, slow breaths to anchor yourself in the present moment, you can help calm the mind and reduce stress.
Resilience is the ability to recover from setbacks and adapt to change. It is about maintaining a positive outlook and finding ways to move forward, even when faced with challenges. By doing things that we don’t want to do (no matter how small), we develop the ability to embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. By surrounding yourself with supportive and positive people, those strong connections can provide emotional support and practical help during difficult times.
At Northern Lights Athletic Club, we are strong believers in the power of a growth mindset. Connected to resilience, growth mindset is a concept popularized by psychologist Carol Dweck, is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. This mindset fosters a love for learning and resilience essential for great accomplishments. Viewing challenges as opportunities to grow rather than obstacles to overcome can make difficult tasks seem more manageable. We tell our athletes that setbacks are a natural part of the learning process and to use them as learning experiences to build resilience and improve.
In our program at Northern Lights Athletic Club, we discuss and instill these four topics. Each is interconnected and reinforces others. Mindfulness can enhance self-kindness by helping you become more aware of your inner dialogue and encouraging a more compassionate approach. Similarly, resilience can be strengthened through mindfulness and self-kindness, as these practices provide the tools to manage stress and recover from setbacks. A growth mindset complements these practices by fostering a positive attitude towards challenges and learning.
I am not a doctor or professional, and this is just my opinion.
