Part II Mindset Blueprint with Don Singe

If you have decided to commence a lifestyle shift for the better, good. But if any of it involves physical changes, you will need a plan! In fact, you need a blueprint.

 Goals are great. Plans are success.

There are 17 teams in the NRL, (National Rugby League) for our US and UK readers, and they all want to win the premiership. Most have all the resources, skills, and capability to be competitive in this regard. They have men and women who dream of premiership glory. There is no shortage of talent and dreams. That's the easy bit.

But there can be only 1 at the end of the season.

The same can be said for AFL, ARU, NFL, basketball, netball, in fact most sports. You get the drift.

Buy you already know what sets them apart. Mindset. Having coached these guys let me start by breaking it down into the key areas that make a difference in the end:

• Honesty
• Discipline
• Persistence
• Consistency
• Reflecting
• Commitment

The teams that excel at all of the above generally win or come close. Without fail.

What does this mean for you, and your physical goals?

Only one team can succeed. That team will be hard on themselves, but selfless in contribution. They will accept and give constructive feedback as they firm thoughts and actions. Even more so, when it counts.

Part I - Mindset type

In Part I we covered 3 key mindesets:

1. Clinging to the past (History).
2. Living in the present (Present)
3. Looking to the future (Future).

Let's draw bits from each of these as we shape our blueprint for a successful and healthy transition.

Let's do this. 

Historically:

• Do you have a version of yourself that you loved, respected, and felt how you want to feel today?
• Can you recall how you got there, what you were doing, and who you were, to achieve this happy state?
• If not, why the urge NOW, what do you want to move away from?

Try writing down at least 3 things related to each of the above on a piece of paper or making notes on your phone.

Present:

• What 3 things have motivated, and urged you to make a change?
• Do you have the resources and environment to make these changes, yes or no?
• Can you get these resources?

Write these down.

Future:

• Who do you want to be?
• Describe that person.
• Describe their behaviours, outlook on life, achievements, and so on.

Write them down.

Analyse:

Now think about how close you are to these, in your current behaviours, habits, and actions to the person you described above. What are the gaps, how big or small are they?

What does the future potential self, look like? Why will this be a good thing? What benefits can you expect from being this person? (vision). How would this new future version feel? (emotion). What would life be like, look like for this person? (purpose).

You might need to work through this, rethink it, and read what you wrote a couple of times, to get it to a place you are comfortable with.

But first a story.

One sunny afternoon a mouse and an owl got talking. The mouse mentioned how it was unhappy with its life as a mouse. The owl, being wise offered to help.

"What would life look like if you could choose?" asked the owl. "Oh wonderful," said the mouse, "I would be bigger, not scared of everything, and eat fresh every day." After several minutes of deliberation and discussions, the owl proudly announced he knew what the mouse should be. "A lion" the owl announced with pride. "Yes," said the mouse, "I agree".

The mouse then looked consideringly at the owl and said, "I'm ready. I'm ready to be a lion, please make it happen now."

"Oh no", said the owl, "I just help set the vision and strategy, I don't do implementation, that's you." The bottom line, work through this carefully, because you will need a plan. Your body is not like Amazon Prime, it takes longer than two days.

Now your story.

Get your vision or strategy right, then decide. Are you willing to do things today, that will bring you closer to the physical and mental picture you arrived at above?

Be honest with yourself.

What are the steps to get there or the rungs on the ladder you will need to climb to get there? Be as detailed as you need to be.

Build a vision, no shortcuts. Half jobs lead to shaky foundations which inevitably lead to failure. remember that.

Start to feel positive about the potential change. If you don't, revisit it.

As you build this vision, it will become your blueprint to help identify the gaps between where you are now, and where you want to be, what resources you have available to support this journey, and your plan. Think about your current habits and behaviours which no longer support this vision and how you will manage them. 

Add detail in the way of targets/ small targets as stepping stones in the blueprint you are building.

• What will show personal progress?
• How often are you going to check in against the blueprint you have created, and measure personal progress?
• What does this even look like?

Get a partner or a friend to sense-check your plan and bring some accountability to the table. Someone you trust. 

Goals can be changed, evolved and reached, as you build and move into your ideal blueprint. Strong, repeatable, and proven processes are the foundation of assured success.

The ask yourself 5 things every day.

• What did I achieve yesterday?
• What will I be more disciplined about today?
• What will I be more committed to today?
• What will I be more disciplined about tomorrow?
• What will I achieve tomorrow?

 Write them down or make a note.

Now we start to move toward consistency.

Written by: Don Singe (Performance Coach)

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