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Myth: When things go wrong, it’s either all your fault or someone else’s.
Truth: It’s rarely that simple. And your thinking pattern matters a lot. In sport and performance psychology, where you place credit and blame for your successes and your failures is a huge topic. It’s called attribution. It’s not that there is a recipe for how to place credit and blame. It’s about spotting the patterns…
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Q: I’m working hard. So why does it still feel like I’m spinning my wheels?
A: Try asking yourself this two-part question. First, ask yourself, “Is this action serving my goal?” We’ve all caught ourselves doing something that clearly wasn’t serving our goal. It’s normal, even if it isn’t always helpful. Next, ask yourself, “Is there something I could be doing instead that would?” It sounds simple. And it is.…
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Q: I have a dream. Why does it keep staying just that, a dream?
A: A goal without a plan is just a wish. It’s surprisingly common. The dream is real, the desire is real. But somehow it just stays there, hovering guiltily. The question is, do you have a good map? Without a good map, even the most motivated person can spin their wheels indefinitely. I know, because…
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Myth: You need to feel passionate about every part of your work.
Truth: You don’t. It’s just not realistic. The idea that you need intrinsic motivation to succeed is, quite simply, a myth. Yet we often feel like something is wrong with us when we don’t feel fired up about every task. Here’s some relief: you don’t need to love every part of what you do to…
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Q: Why does the same task feel exciting one day and daunting the next?
A: It might not be you. It might be your environment. If you’ve ever noticed that the exact same task can feel exciting in one situation and completely daunting in another, congratulations, you’re normal! Your environment and the level of pressure it carries have more to do with your motivation than you might think. Think…
