11+ Ways to Develop an Elite Athlete’s Mindset (Real Life Examples!)

An elite athlete is someone who has the mindset of a winner and will do what it takes to achieve their goals.

The term “elite” means that an individual is at the top of their game, and they are always striving to improve themselves through hard work, dedication and commitment.

An elite athlete has an abundance of self-confidence in all aspects of life, but especially in sports and competition.

The elite athlete possesses several qualities that help them succeed:

- They have a firm belief in themselves.

- They are unshakable in their resolve.

- They have a passion for what they do, which gives them motivation to do well despite any obstacles they face along the way.

- They can bounce back from failure by learning from their mistakes rather than letting them get them down or discourage them from continuing their goals.

I’ll expound on these themes and more to help you (and myself) foster the admirable top athlete’s mindset.

Reaching Your Potential in Athletics and in Life

There are many reasons we’re unable to reach our potential in sports and in life.

One of the biggest obstacles is fear. Fear of failure, fear of success, fear of inadequacy, or fear that we might fail at something and look like a fool.

We all have these fears, but it is important to have the courage to overcome them and keep moving forward toward our goals.

Another challenge is having the right mindset. When we think about how we want to be perceived by others, we may end up sabotaging ourselves because we are too focused on other people’s opinions instead of focusing on our own goals.

People who are successful in their chosen fields rarely focus on what other people think about them, but focus on their own objectives and ambitions.

These types of people outperform expectations and achieve great things because they are focused on the process rather than being distracted by what others think about them or how they might feel about themselves if they fail at something important to them.

Steve Young was an outstanding football player who had a successful career despite struggling with anticipatory anxiety (and unresolved childhood separation anxiety) during his career as an NFL quarterback.

He would constantly worry about making mistakes, which caused him to lose sleep at night and even made him feel nauseous before games.

Counseling gave Young a safe place to express himself, without fear of judgment or rejection. It made him recognize and understand these negative emotions, and provided insight into how to defeat them.

Along with deep breathing, visualization, healthy distractions, and more, Steve Young overcame his fears and excelled at his craft. (He now avers that anxiety has made him the man he is today — compassionate, spiritual, and giving.)

Are You Ready to Develop and Embrace an Athlete's Growth Mindset?  

Athletic success is a mindset that must be developed and maintained. It requires a focus on improvement and a commitment to excellence. The elite athlete must possess several key characteristics.

Ready, set, and go, here are 11+ winning ways to develop and cultivate an elite athlete’s mindset:

1) Refuse to be complacent

You may have noticed that elite athletes are never satisfied with their current performance level and are always striving for more.

They want to improve themselves and set higher goals than they’ve already achieved, so they can keep moving forward toward (greater) success.

Hockey enthusiasts widely consider Wayne Gretzky the greatest hockey player of all time. He scored an amazing 92 goals in a single season, and tallied 894  goals and 2,857 points in his 20-year career. How did he do it?

He approached hockey, focusing relentlessly on improvement. He was never satisfied with his stats, always wanting to score more goals.

When he scored one goal in a game, he wanted two; when he scored two, he desired to score again.

It’s easy to become content with what you have, especially when you’re good at something. But that’s not how elite athletes think: they are constantly looking for ways to improve their game and push themselves further.

2) Maintain unwavering confidence

Confidence is the key to success in any sport. You need the confidence to compete, to play, and to win. Confidence separates top athletes from unsuccessful ones.

The best athletes in the world have steadfast confidence. They believe they are invincible, that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.

They know that even if they lose a game or a match; it doesn’t matter because they will redeem themselves in a future contest.

Think about how you feel when someone challenges your abilities or suggests that you can’t do something well. How does this make you feel? Do you take it as an insult or as motivation to work harder?

The boxer Muhammad Ali is the perfect example of an athlete who possessed unwavering confidence. Ali was known for his brash, boastful comments in and out of the ring. He would often boast about how he would beat his opponents, even when he was down in the fight.

Ali’s confidence helped him prevail over many of his challengers.

3) Get into a daily routine and practice

The most successful athletes have a routine that they follow every day. They know what they're going to eat, when they're going to eat, how much sleep they need, and how much time they're going to spend in the gym or on the field practicing for their sport.

If you want to be like them, you need to exercise as much discipline.

The elite athlete's mindset is a combination of dedication, hard work, and passion. The best athletes are always looking for ways to improve their game.

They are constantly working on new techniques and strategies to become better at their sport.

A good example of this is Michael Jordan, who practiced basketball for hours each day. He did not have time for any other activities because he was so focused on his sport and improving his skills.

4) Set lofty but achievable goals

Another effective way to achieve success is to set lofty but achievable goals. Achievable goals are ones you can reasonably expect to accomplish over time, and achieving them requires specific action on your part.

When setting goals, it is important to remember the S.M.A.R.T acronym: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-Bound.

For example, A non-smart goal might be "I want to make more money." That's not specific and time-bound; you need to break it down into smaller steps like "increase revenue by 20% this year" or "earn $500 more per month."

Successful athletes have a relentless pursuit of excellence, and they will do whatever it takes to get there, setting smart objectives along their journey.

They set high standards for themselves and their teammates, and they have the discipline to push through the inevitable challenges and setbacks along the way.

Successful athletes’ modus operandi is to reflect on personal and team goals, and do whatever is within their power to achieve them.

Michael Phelps is a 28-time Olympic medalist and one of the most elite athletes in swimming sports history.

He has set the bar for excellence, but he did not get there by accident. Phelps had a specific plan for success, and he followed through with it consistently.

He started by setting a big goal: to become an Olympian. Then, he deconstructed that big goal down into smaller goals and worked on them one at a time until they were accomplished.

5) Focus on what you can control — not what you can't control.

Focus is key to success in any profession; it’s even more important for athletes because they are constantly facing challenges beyond their control — injuries, bad weather and other factors that can affect their performance on the field or court.

The best athletes don’t let these factors distract them from their goals or negatively impact how they play their game; instead, they focus on doing everything possible to prepare themselves for competition so that when it comes time for action, they’re ready to perform at their best level under whatever circumstances arise during the event itself.

Jackie Robinson was one of the greatest athletes in history. He was an exceptional baseball player and someone who played with grand passion for the game.

Robinson was a powerful leader, unthwarted by obstacles.

Case in point: He performed wonderfully despite jeers and insults from fans around him throughout his career. His ability to perform well under pressure and withstand race-related crowd vitriol helped him become a Hall of Fame baseball player and paved the way for other African-American players to enter Major League Baseball in later years.

Robinson’s success was because of his mindset as an athlete. He knew his intrinsic desires and pursued every avenue to achieve those goals — no matter how difficult they may have been at times, knowing certain circumstances were beyond his control.

6) Never stop learning from experiences - whether positive or negative

The most successful athletes are constantly learning from favorable and unfavorable experiences. They understand that the only way to improve is to analyze what they’ve done well and what they need to improve on.

This process of reflection is often referred to as “post-game analysis” or “coaching yourself.” It’s a way for athletes to reflect on their performance by looking at their strengths and weaknesses, as well as their opponents’.

By examining what went right or wrong, athletes can come up with strategies for future competition.

Nolan Ryan was a pitcher for 27 years in Major League Baseball and played for several teams, including the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers. He won 324 games in his career and struck out 5,714 batters.

Not only was he one of the most premier pitchers ever to play the game, but he also had an amazing 15 seasons with 200+ strikeouts - a record that still stands today!

Ryan struggled early in his career, but learned from those mistakes. He became a great pitcher by understanding what he did wrong so he could improve on it in the future.

He credits past coaches for helping him change his pitching mechanics and refine his fastball.

An analytical mind with ample, constructive self-reflection is a prerequisite to an elite athlete’s mindset, paving the way toward excellence.  

7) Maintain a state of mindfulness, focusing on the process, not the outcome

Mindfulness is a powerful tool for athletes because it allows them to stay focused on the game and tune out any distractions.

It’s important for athletes to stay in the moment because if they get too distracted, it will affect their performance.

For example, if an athlete is thinking about what happened during practice last week or worrying about what might happen next week, it’s going to be difficult for them to perform well during their game or meet.

If an athlete can stay mindful and focused on what is happening right now, then they will perform better during competition.

Athletes also need mindfulness so that they can manage their emotions while competing.

Sometimes when pressure mounts or things don’t go as planned during competition, emotions can get out of control and cause athletes to lose focus or react poorly toward other competitors or officials.

Naomi Osaka is a recently retired tennis player who reached the pinnacle of her profession, winning numerous notable tournaments.

Naomi attributes her success to the mindfulness techniques she acquired.

Mindfulness is a practice that helps athletes stay focused on their performance and improves their ability to handle stress. It also helps them develop emotional intelligence, which enables them to be more resilient when facing challenges.

When we are stressed out, we often have negative thoughts and feelings that can cloud our judgement and interfere with our performance.

Mindfulness helps us gain control over these thoughts and feelings so that we can perform at our best under pressure.

Naomi continues to use mindfulness methods to overcome depression and burnout as she pursues other goals.

8) Acknowledge your fears but don’t let them control you

An athlete’s mindset is a crucial component of success. While physical strength and skill are important, mental toughness is the key to unlocking limitless potential for any athlete.

The best athletes learn how to use pressure as motivation and not let it distract them from their goals.

In a sport as fast-paced and technically difficult as soccer, it’s easy to forget that players who excel have to manifest mental toughness and a winning mindset and mentality.

Carli Lloyd, who announced her retirement from international soccer last year, is a reminder of that. She’s been one of the most important players for the U.S. Women’s National Team for over a decade now.

In fact, this four-time Olympian (two-time gold medalist) is often regarded as the most clutch player in women’s sports history. She notes that pressure continues to encourage her to “dig extra deep,” which musters her can do attitude.

9) Be okay with making mistakes — even if it means failing a few times before you succeed

We all make mistakes. It’s inevitable when we’re learning something new and taking action. But what matters isn’t whether you make a mistake — it’s how you respond when you make one.

The biggest mistake most athletes make is to beat themselves up over their miscues. They get angry at themselves; they get frustrated; and they feel ashamed and embarrassed.

Then they let their emotions impede their performance, which leads to another mistake. And then another one after that.

Failure is a part of life. You will fail but it’s how you deal with these failures that will determine whether you’ll be successful.

One of the greatest pitchers of the ‘80s, former MLB pitcher Orel Hershiser has the dubious distinction of being cut from both his college baseball team and high school team (although there is some dispute to that assertion).

But it’s clear that Hershiser had to deal with past adversity to propel him toward greatness. He refused to give up on his dream and won an incredible 204 games over 18 seasons in Major League Baseball.

10) Take care of your body and mind by getting enough rest, eating right and staying positive

Develop an elite athlete’s mindset by taking care of your whole person.

This means:

Nutrition: You need good food in your body so it can give you energy and help you recover from training sessions.

Sleep: The body requires sleep to repair itself and grow stronger. It also helps with cognition and memory retention.

Stress management and cultivating optimism: It’s important that you learn how to deal with stress in a healthy way (e.g., meditation, visualization, etc.). Stress and negativity are the enemies of peak performance!

Tom Brady is an example of this principle. He is known for his strict diet, exercise routine, sleep (he gets 9 hours per night of shuteye!). He also has a reputation for being extremely disciplined in his mental approach to the game.

He asserts he embraces a “winning attitude,” even when things are not going well. His mental strength and his willingness to take care of himself in all other areas continue to foster his success.

11) Stop worrying about being the best and just be your best

To develop a world-class mindset, you need to live up to your limitless potential. Stop worrying about being the best and just be your best.

When you focus on being the best, you’re constantly comparing yourself to others. This is completely counterproductive because it causes you to lose sight of your own goals and development.

Instead, focus on becoming better than you were yesterday — not better than someone else.

Stop focusing on what other people are doing and start concentrating on your own journey. Take pride in every small win and celebrate every accomplishment as if it were a championship trophy.

This is how champions train: They don’t worry about beating anyone else; they just concentrate on training harder than they did before so that they can become better than they were yesterday.

Again, if you want to become one of the best athletes in the world — or even if you just want to be an outstanding athlete — then stop worrying about being the best and just be your best.

Think of Special Olympics athletes who showcase optimal effort. These athletes have faced many challenges in their personal lives and have overcome them with determination, hard work and perseverance — all qualities we can learn from as well.

What is Elite Athlete Mindset Training?

Elite athlete mindset training is creating an environment and culture that fosters maximum performance.

It is based on the concept that athletes are not born with elite skills but learn them through practice, training, and coaching. Elite athlete mindset training focuses on how to create a winning attitude in all aspects of your life.

Elite athletes can concentrate and focus on their goals, even when their physical abilities are challenged. They can control their emotions, remain calm under pressure, and find ways to succeed when they are losing or facing hardships.

Elite athletes have an unwavering belief in themselves, which helps them overcome obstacles such as injury or fatigue.

Their confidence allows them to perform at their best when it matters most. They also have a relentless drive to improve and never give up on their dreams.

Athlete mindset training teaches athletes how to develop these qualities through the use of visualization techniques, positive affirmations and self-talk, mindfulness, etc.

By using these tools, athletes can improve their performance by increasing their confidence and focus while reducing anxiety and stress levels.

Athletes who have mastered elite athlete mindset training have learned how to make adjustments in real time instead of waiting until after the game is over before making adjustments based on what happened during the game itself.

This means that such athletes can adapt and change to ensure victory.

Can You Apply These Elite Athlete Mindset Principles to Other Areas of Your Life?

Elite athletes are highly competitive, hardworking and ambitious. They set lofty goals and have a strong desire to win. The same characteristics can be used in other areas of life to achieve success.

In business, for example, these principles can help you become more productive and successful. Here’s how:

A) Set goals that matter to you. Athletes are focused on their performance in order to win medals or championships. They know what they want and they’re willing to work hard to achieve it.

You should do the same thing in your career — set goals that matter to you, then work hard in order to achieve them. If you don’t know where you’re going in life, then your day-to-day activities won’t take you anywhere special either.

B) Take action every day toward achieving your goals (and never give up). This is related to my previous point about setting goals that matter to you because if you don’t make progress towards those goals daily, then there’s no way for them to become reality.

Elite athletes never quit until they reach their goal — even if it takes years or decades! In winning the game of business, this means doing whatever it takes every single day until your desired outcome is achieved.

Final Words -  Sports Psychology

The best athletes are the ones who have developed a warrior-like approach to their sport. They are focused and determined, but they also know how to relax, not take themselves too seriously, and enjoy the journey.

The most successful athletes are also mentally strong enough to bounce back from failure and learn from mistakes.

If you want to become a better athlete, or simply improve your performance in any area of life, then you need to cultivate an elite athlete's mindset.

In the last few years, the science of psychology has been gaining popularity in the world of sports. The reason is simple: mental toughness affects performance just like physical training.

The best athletes in the world are those who can endure pain and discomfort, and keep going even when it seems impossible.

An elite athlete’s mindset is one that can push through barriers and achieve success.

Here are other principles of an elite athlete’s mindset:

- Focus on the process, not the outcome

- Expect nothing from others; be self-reliant

- Be accountable for your actions

- Stay focused on what you need to do next (instead of worrying about what could happen)

- Manifest unparalleled effort, grit, and determination

You now have the tools to cultivate the elite athlete's mindset and gain personal victories.

Repeat afgter me:

I am a warrior.

I am the master of my mind.

I will fight with every ounce of strength in my body and every thought in my mind, and I will never give up until I have won the war!