Consider the two individuals in this image. What are they likely to be thinking? I suggest that the individual on the right is likely to be thinking “I’ve got this”! He appears to be focused on the path ahead and calm and confident in his abilities. Based on what we can see, he looks like he will successfully negotiate the challenge. Thinking he can be successful is likely to engender feelings of wellbeing that prove beneficial to his endeavour, as we perform at our best in a state of wellbeing.
In contrast, I suggest that the individual on the left is likely to be thinking “This is too hard. I’m done for”. He is likely to be hyper-alert to the bending of the cable and fluctuations in his balance. He appears to be quite anxious and doubting his ability to successfully negotiate the challenge. Based on what we can see, it looks unlikely that he will successfully negotiate the challenge. Thinking he may fail is likely to engender feelings of stress that undermine his endeavour, as it is hard to perform at our best when we are highly stressed.
The point here is that our thoughts are important in the success, or otherwise, of our endeavours.
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