08/10/2021
The biggest mountain we often have to climb is in our own minds.
Perseverance, grit, determination, constant effort, daily steps are undoubtedly keys to success.
But understanding how your mind impacts on your success will make it easier to tackle your next challenge.
Our mind will talk us out of 'climbing the mountain' - it looks impossible, too daunting and overwhelming.
When we feel fear, it releases the hormones cortisol and adrenaline. This sparks the nervous system to identify the threat. The flight fright response kicks in to protect the body to move away from the perceived threat. The mind goes into overdrive with an avalanche of thoughts, concerns and worries.
Suddenly, you feel like climbing the mountain is a ridiculous idea - and you either give up, put it off or think maybe I'll do it later.
Equilibrium is restored, the mind feels calm, the threat is gone - the stress hormones dissipates.
Knowing that starting any new challenge is going to kickstart this nervous system response - gives you the ability to recognize it and push through it - as the saying goes 'feel the fear but do it anyway'.
Once we do the thing that we are fearful of - the mind realizes that it is not a 'threatening event' and realizes that it is OK to do it again.
Link a sense of achievement to undertaking the first step, this will activate your reward system.
When you look at the mountain, identify the first small step and feel how wonderful it will be once you have achieved it. The brain loves that sense of accomplishment and the feeling of success. The brain will now motivate you to go after that goal.
Keep after your goals - don't let your mind talk you out of it.
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