We talk a lot about the winning mindset, there are countless books written on developing a winning mindset, I know - I've read most of them. The mindset is probably the most powerful thing you possess when it comes to competition. The metal prep is much tougher than the physical - as I say “going to the gym is the easy bit! 

Therefore training the mental side of your game is just as vital as the prep you put into the physical. Imagine putting in countless hours in the gym, paying your coach, paying your nutritionist, then ignoring your mental game and the day of your comp it falls apart. 

So to develop the winning mindset what are the downfalls?....certainly developing the losing mindset before the winning one

I see it over and over, I speak to people over and over - “everyone is stronger than me”, “everyone has been training longer than me”, “i’m not strong enough” are just a few of the things I hear….and the latest…..dropping out of a comp due to the level of the competitors. 

So what can you do to overcome the losing mindset?....firstly get your head out of other people's social media, It's not a new phenomenon that people will only post the best on social media, their best lifts, their PB’s...or like me...I don't post the weights i’m lifting, so unless you're in the gym with me, you're my coach, or extremely close to me….ask yourself “what is Sam actually lifting?” people also don't post their bad days, bad weeks and bad lifts!...so stop comparing yourself to them, you concentrate on you, or to quote the latest saying “stay in your lane” - I leave it to my coach, she knows my competitors, she knows where I am in relation to them and plans accordingly. If you're constantly worrying that you're not strong enough compared to others social media - You're in a losing mindset! 

Longevity in the sport means nothing, you can be a novice and climb the ranks extremely quickly, don't be intimidated by how long people have done the sport, all it means on the day of competition is they have more experience they know what to expect and yes have developed their mindset. It's easy to be intimidated by big names. I get it, but anything can happen which brings me onto my next point…..

……..Dropping out of a comp because there are big names competing. I mean I get it, as a newcomer, a novice. It's intimidating, and you're probably sitting there in that losing mindset having already decided they're going to win, and maybe they are…...but what an opportunity to compete side by side?....What an opportunity to learn?.....liken it to the FA Cup, non league sides going up against the likes of Manchester United…...how many times have you seen the Non league team drop out saying well we’re not going to win so i’m pulling out??....you haven't! 

Think of it like this, everyone is human, everyone can trip, slip, fall drop an implement - just because of your level or what you've won, how long you've completed all these things can happen - to anyone. So if you enter a comp and there is huge name, grab that opportunity and run a millions miles an hour with it - Imagine on your deathbed being able to say “yes i competed alongside The World Strongest Woman” and then compare it to “yes, I could have competed alongside World's Strongest Woman. But I dropped out!”....I know which deathbed I want to be on.

So without wanting to sound too harsh - Pull up your big girl pants, get over yourself, get that entry in, and get that winning mindset sorted!