This topic seems to continuously show it’s face, whether it’s with one of my students or my own day-to-day walk. It’s such an important issue, as it always finds it’s way into every aspect of our lives. Very often, we tend to overlook the importance pressure plays in our motivations and our attempts to reach our specific goals. I want to address a certain part of this word, and how it’s presented to most of us… actually, all of us!

This topic seems to continuously show it’s face, whether it’s with one of my students or my own day-to-day walk. It’s such an important issue, as it creeps into every aspect of our lives. Very often, we tend to overlook the importance pressure plays in our motivations and our attempts to reach our specific goals. I want to address a certain part of this word, and how it’s presented to most of us… actually, all of us!

When we meet pressure head-on, we’ve been taught to “handle” or “deal” with it as good as we know how. As I was trying to reach new levels in my sporting career, I was constantly taught that the athlete who “deals with pressure best will always come out ahead.” “Whoever handles the pressure, and can play through it will separate himself from the competition.”

I now understand they were all wrong, and have mislead my thinking and approach to this powerful word. I know… you all think I’m out of my mind, but let me explain:

We don’t “handle” a healthier body, do we? We don’t “deal” with eating correctly, and exercising regularly, correct? We love our new body… we embrace and invite the proper foods into our diet, and the endorphin rush that results from exercise.

We don’t “handle” a birdie in golf… we hope for, love, and need it.”

We don’t “deal” with an A on our exams… we yearn for it, study our butts off, expect that grade.

So, why are we supposed to handle and deal with pressure? Answer: We’ve associated pressure with negativity. We’ve linked adversity to pressure into our unconscious, making us immediately focus on how to “do our best when faced with this monster…” Instead of thinking of pressure as something to deal with, we should be putting our arm around it, inviting it into our every move. It’s because of pressure that we’ve succeeded. Let me repeat: Pressure is the reason we reach new levels, and isn’t something we should be afraid of.

How do we reshape our mindsets, making pressure work for us? Redefine the word!

Rather than equating fear with pressure, make it an OPPORTUNITY. It’s an opportunity to… (you fill in the blank, depending on your motivations and goals). Filling in the blank with anything you want is the best, and most powerful part of your new definition. Opportunity doesn’t allow fear or hesitation to enter it’s world. You can’t say, “pressure is an opportunity to…” and still be afraid to fail. Opportunity is power, which will ultimately result in the result we’re attempting to achieve.

Again, as written in my last post, it is this simple… but sometimes clarity is too clear to see.

In order for our mindset to shift, and be able to redefine pressure as our best friend, we must practice this every day. Every time we feel pressure, repeat our new definition. Our minds are a muscle… the harder we work, the faster we’ll achieve!

Pressure is an opportunity to…

We create those habits through massive, massive repetition… consciously and unconsciously. If we can create bad habits through such repetition, we can also create new, better habits through the same process.

The challenge is taking the necessary action to repeat the good habits over and over.

In order for anything to manifest, we must first make a conscious decision to want it to happen… this may be one of the most difficult things we do. Making that concrete decision isn’t easy, and is what holds many of us back from achieving new and better. We know we “want” something different, but too often, lack the courage to commit to that decision that will create a shift in our mindset.

The biggest mistake I see every day is people trying to “change bad habits.” Trying to change the habit actually makes us focus more attention on it, resulting in an even stronger bad habit. We spend so much time on the habit we don’t want, we ironically make it more powerful.

Instead, we should concentrate on CREATING NEW habits.


Figure out what we want… repeat over and over.


Sounds simple? It is!


It’s so simple, most completely overlook the ease at which these new habits materialize.


Clarity is very often too clear to see.

With the Winter Olympics upon us, I’m instantly drawn to the many topics and story lines developing every day. The Olympic games are the peak of mental and emotional toughness, and for some athletes, the single moment that will define their careers.

Breaking down the competition to it’s simplest form: They’re attempting to elevate their performance to it’s maximum potential while under maximum pressure.

Elevate: To move or raise to a higher place or position; lift up.

Most Olympic athletes train for years in order to perform for seconds. Some are given the luxury of minutes, but all are attempting to find the mental clarity that will allow them to find the race, skate, run, or jump of a lifetime.

We’re all looking (or should be) to “elevate our game” to new heights, often times needing a simple reminder… the honest look in the mirror that convinces us the new levels we seek are there, and that we do deserve to reach that summit. Are we looking at our reflection often enough, asking the proper and powerful questions? Do we ask, “how, when, what will I?” Do we push back when the pain of action tests our convictions, and dares us to quit?

We don’t have to be Olympic athletes to understand how valuable daily persistence and discipline can be to our lives. All of us who have decided to commit to a life changing goal are closer to these athletes than we know. Pain, fatigue, doubt… positive action, confidence, and breakthroughs are all part of our routines, and speak to us daily. We’ve all felt the urge to quit – maybe some of us actually have… but if you’re reading this, it means you’ve stood up, dusted off, and continued your walk.

When you turn on your t.v. and witness the incredible accomplishments of these young kids competing for their country, remember… they’re representing you and your daily achievements! You too are elevating. You too are climbing to a higher standard.

Anyone familiar with these:

I was recently talking with a mom who was inquiring about Coach Your Mind, and if I may be able to help her son. Within two minutes, she asked if I taught “the power of positive thinking.”

“Absolutely not!” I answered

(dramatic, nervous pause) 


She looked at me as if I was a crazy person. “What?!!” she questioned, almost angrily.

(another nervous pause)


I don’t like the term, power of positive thinking… and never mention it to my students. It just feels overplayed and diluted. When people here it, they actually give a look, as if to say…

“Yeah, yeah – I’ve heard all that positive thinking stuff before. Give me something new!”


I teach the power of Possible Thinking! Possible Thinking is where we step up to new heights, look down at our old lives, and laugh at the past. When we give-in to the Possible, our minds stop looking for ways to fail, and begin searching for bigger, better, new… Possible.

This has been one of my bigger challenges, growing up. My first reaction used to be about why I couldn’t, wouldn’t, and never will achieve. Through the incredible experience of learning how to create a new mindset for myself, I realized ways of helping others with this challenge as well. Possible Thinking isn’t always easy, and doesn’t often come naturally… but with practice, will transform our way of living.

Every time we walk head first into an obstacle, or focus on a passion we wish would materialize, let’s create a new habit of asking why it will be Possible. New mindsets are like muscles… they can’t improve without constant attention. We have to practice daily if we hope to create a unique, exceptional way of thinking… ultimately leading to a more inspiring way of living.

Being positive is an important quality to have… Thinking Possibilities will open us to opportunities we never dreamed were attainable!

I love starting a new week with something to make us say…. hmmmm. Hopefully you will.

Most of us continue on our difficult journey only when there’s evidence that supports our desired result. Very few keep stepping when nothing is all they see… when “failure” is laughing at them. These few are who I want to talk about. These people live in the minority, and enjoy a club they know will never be overflowing with members. When they glance at their reflection, they see an invisible smile coming from within, knowing they have a group secret ~ knowing they’ve figured out how to stand out from the rest.

These people understand that evidence isn’t, and never will be, the key. Self belief is their master. This type of belief is unflappable, living deep in their core. It looks at past failure as something that doesn’t exist, created by those who were too weak to look for an alternative. This ‘F’ word is a good word, only fueling their intense passion to succeed when others say it will be impossible… knocking down walls built by the scared.

In their world, evidence is all around, especially living in their minds and imaginations. They don’t need a past to tell them, “yes, you are worthy.” Their main objective is to create a present that proves the past is unimportant, and the future awaits with open arms. Of course, the past should be learned from, potentially improving the present, but never playing a role in whether or not we reach the finish line today.

You see… these few, special players in our never ending game have learned that possibility begins, not with the opinions of others or actions from our past-selves, but rather from our thoughts and beliefs. They believe because they’ve chosen to believe, not because someone has told them it was safe and probable. They believe because they know negative past actions don’t dictate positive future results!