It’s Possible“Don't Look at The Wall”
If you've ever watched professional car racing, you're probably familiar with Mario Andretti. In fact, it's safe to say even those who've never watched a race in their life have heard of this famous driver. Andretti is considered by many to be the most versatile and successful race car driver ever. During a career spanning over five decades, he broke records (reaching speeds over 234 miles an hour and being one of only two drivers to win races in NASCAR, World Sportscar Championship, IndyCar, and Formula One, to name a few) and changed what many thought possible behind the wheel.
When asked how he accomplished so much during his career, Andretti gave his top tip for success,
"Don't look at the wall. Your car goes where your eyes go."
While there's no doubt this is great advice when driving over 200 miles per hour, it got me thinking about how it applies to life in general. Can what we focus on determine the path we take and how we view the world around us? The short answer is, "Yes!"
The Power of Thought
Just like Andretti, what you choose to focus on can either lead to your success or failure. In racing, this concept is black and white. Take your eyes off the road and look at the wall, and you'll crash into it. In life, it can be more nuanced. For example, criticism and negativity from others is a big reason why we stop pursuing our dreams. We take our eyes off the road towards our goals and instead we look at the wall (negative comments), and we crash. The question isn't whether you'll have to deal with criticism and negativity from others but rather how you'll deal with it when it occurs.
Our thoughts have the power to change our lives. An article in Psychology Today showed a direct connection between a growth mindset (one that focuses on the positive) and success. The reality is that negativity is everywhere, and if you focus on it, you'll begin to believe it. Those negative thoughts grow into anger, self-doubt, and discouragement, which are like a cancer to success. And if you're not careful, they'll preoccupy your mind and keep you from reaching your goals. So, how do you combat criticism and tune out the negativity?
Changing Your Thought Patterns
It starts by changing the way you view criticism. Instead of holding on to negative comments, you can teach yourself to use them as motivation by assigning a new meaning to them. One that will propel you to recommit to your dreams.
Believe me, it's not easy, not at first. But like any muscle, the more you work on it, the stronger you become and the easier it gets. Soon, you'll be able to shake off negativity and no longer worry about pleasing others, which feels incredible!
There will always be people who are determined to tear others down, but you don't have to let them hold you back. Their criticism and negativity reflect their shortcomings, not yours. Stop giving them power over your thoughts. Your time is valuable and is better spent on positive pursuits. Start living in your power by focusing on what’s possible and keeping your eyes on your goals.
And remember, don’t look at the wall!
It's Possible!