| I think a key to an athlete's success is their | | | | I have now created an amazing life because I |
| unwavering belief in themselves and their own | | | | broke through beliefs about what I could have in |
| ability. This self-belief does not always cross over | | | | life. I chose to believe that I could continue on |
| to skills outside of sport and can contribute to the | | | | doing what I was doing, traveling around the world |
| struggle athletes' face on retirement. | | | | AND have an amazing relationship that supported |
| Beliefs are aspects of life that we believe to hold | | | | that. Before that I limited myself by thinking I had |
| true. What I believe determines my reality, what | | | | to choose between one and another. How often |
| you believe determines your reality. So how do | | | | do we think we have to choose between one |
| we come to believe different things? | | | | thing and the other? And then that becomes our |
| It often comes down to our experiences, | | | | life - one of compromise. |
| particularly our experiences growing up. Research | | | | Think about some things you might have believed |
| shows that our experiences within our first 7 | | | | from when you were young - are you good |
| years of life are very instrumental in determining | | | | enough, pretty enough, do you have what it |
| our beliefs, in shaping our beliefs. They can be | | | | takes? Sport is easy, math is hard. The list goes |
| shaped by our parents and what we see | | | | on, the beliefs list. It all goes back to points in time |
| happening with our parents and around our | | | | when you decide to believe something. |
| community, or church. | | | | For example, I was at an airport watching this |
| Think now about what you believe. What do you | | | | frustrated man berate his wife after a struggle |
| believe about your abilities, what do you believe | | | | through security. They had 3 tiny kids with them |
| about life? I mean we all believe the world is | | | | looking uncomfortable as their parents argued. |
| round. But at one time in life, people thought the | | | | The eldest little boy stuck up for his mom at one |
| world was flat. And that was their reality. They | | | | point saying it was not her fault. The father was |
| had not seen anything different. | | | | doing the best he could with a difficult situation, |
| So, what sort of beliefs are helping you or holding | | | | however, at the heat of the moment he told the |
| you back? | | | | boy "life is hard and you better get used to it". |
| Some beliefs are great like "I am going to the | | | | This little kid is probably 7-8 years old, and with |
| Olympics." I had a self-belief that I could do it and | | | | that statement from his father a new belief was |
| so that drove me to train and persist until I | | | | most likely shaped right there. I can just imagine |
| achieved it in 2000. I am sure there are things | | | | him in 20 years time thinking "life is hard" and his |
| that you pushed for and created because you | | | | life reflecting that. |
| believed you could do it. I am also sure there are | | | | This is the power of the mind in determining our |
| some things you are not doing because you | | | | life. The good news is that beliefs can change. The |
| believe they are not possible. | | | | first step is awareness. When you realize that you |
| In particular, what do you believe about your | | | | can choose what you believe then you are a big |
| ability to succeed in areas outside of sport? What | | | | step forward in creating success in anything you |
| do you believe about finance? Are you good with | | | | desire. |
| money? What about career, relationships, health. | | | | |