Shift your perspective in response to Mistakes to improve performance

Through his research on learned helplessness, positive psychology founder, Martin Seligman, discovered that when people view setbacks in their life as permanent (the setback will last forever), pervasive (it defines all parts of who they are), and personal (it is completely their fault), they tend to develop explanatory styles or stories about their lack of ability to effectively navigate stress/difficulties. Imagine seeing every mistake you make through these lenses and what a heavy weight that creates for a person. It might seem extreme (because let’s be honest, we all make many mistakes in a day), but a lot of us do this without even realizing it. As competition increases and demands of life naturally intensify, this way of thinking creates a mounting sense of anxiety that wears down our resilience and self-efficacy. 

So, the next time you make a mistake in competition or in your personal life, shift your perspective of the mistake and remember: 

This mistake is impermanent - a point in time that you can make adjustments from

This mistake is specific - relevant to this one skill or tasks, not reflective of your abilities as a whole

This mistake is impersonal - there are many factors impacting this outcome of most situations. Take accountability for where you should and can, and accept that there are other factors impacting outcome that you might never have complete control over. 

Thanks for taking time for yourself today.

Sara