Did you know there are mind games to play on yourself that will trick you into achieving a greater level of success? These 3 tips are real, value-driven techniques that I and many other successful people frequently use. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain by upping your mental intentionality when it comes to achieving goals.

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1. Success is Possible in Short Bursts

Success requires a unique amount of talking to ourselves.

Why?

Because many times we are alone when the going gets tough.

But just because we’re alone it doesn’t mean no words should be exchanged.

Take exercising for instance.

Knowing how much time is left for an activity can be a game changer.

Let’s say we’re doing a plank (abdominal/core exercise where you are in a prone position on your toes and forearms while holding your core stable and straight). If we aren’t very strong with the plank movement, a minute can feel daunting. But broken down, it’s only 60 seconds.

Telling ourselves “I can do anything for 60 seconds” will knock 5 seconds off the time easy. A few thoughts later we may be down to 30 seconds.

Thirty seconds is nothing and soon enough, the timer goes off.

It’s basic human nature to resist extended periods of discomfort.

Maybe you’ve thought things like:

• Two hour studying block? Run for the hills!
• Ten hour workday? Hit the snooze button!
• Training for a marathon? Start tomorrow!
• Want to retire early? Save big next year!

This is why focusing on short bursts of intense activity can be a game changer! Rather than trying to go the distance right off the bat, it’s more helpful if we work up to it little by little.

Don’t the following responses feel more manageable?

• Study for just 15 minutes and see what happens.
• Work just 30 minutes extra and see how you feel.
• Run just 1 lap and then just 1 mile and go from there.
• Put a few dollars away now and try to increase it a little bit each month.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying but it begs to be repeated: How do you walk a mile? One step at a time.

2. Expect Discomfort on the Road to Success

Have you ever wondered why some people can face tremendous anguish or in some instances, pain?

Many times they have prepared themselves to face it.

In college, I took wrestling, boxing, and swimming survival classes. I went to a military school so it was more primal than most.

Boxing was brutal. But walking into the gym knowing I’d be punched in the face made it sting a little bit less.

Wrestling was grueling. But walking onto the mat knowing I’d be throwing up lunch from giving it my all made it easier to plan for.

Swimming survival was on another level of physical and mental strain. But knowing it would be tough and I was learning real skills by qualified instructors helped me push through and grow.

Many times we begin an activity with pure optimism. We think the business will be an easy launch. We think our first customer/client/partner will say yes. We think the money will last far longer than it actually does.

But those who win in business, have rewarding careers, and reach top levels of success all acknowledge the “suck factor”.

Winning is hard. Success is hard. And climbing to the top takes guts, discipline, and a dose of humor.

Expecting the discomfort allows us to push through when the going gets tough. We shouldn’t want it…but we should be ready to acknowledge it and wave it goodbye as we continue the grind.

3. Be Ready to Say Yes for Opportunities that Lead to Success

The doors to epic success opportunities are unexpected!

Let me say that again.

The doors to epic success opportunities are unexpected!

We don’t know when they will show up or when they will open. We also don’t know when they will close.

We are not in control of them.

What we are in control of is our ability to prepare and say “Yes!”.

I once made a career leap without leaving my organization.

I had been growing in my field of expertise for 10 years. I was wondering what my next steps would be and generally considering my career future in a prudent sense when I learned my organization was looking for someone like me to build a group from the ground up in another state.

I did only what I had control to do.

I said “Yes!”

Then, I waited. It was entirely up to other people.

This is how opportunities work. It’s an exchange. There must be someone who creates the opportunity and someone who says “Yes!”.

Until a door opens, it’s in our best interests to grow in our skills and abilities and have an ever present readiness to say “Yes!”

Success Mind Games

Success mind games are real because we are not just physical beings. We have emotional, mental, and spiritual sides to us.

Mind games can have a positive effect on our emotional and mental states, which help us counteract grueling physical discomfort or spiritual exhaustion. And in similar ways, strengthening ourselves physically and spiritually can help us tackle mental and emotional challenges.

It’s a great idea to frequently take stock of how we’re doing in these 4 areas and see which one (physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual) could use some extra attention.

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