Our minds are not easy to manage. There are times when mindset matters more than others.
Reality Check
Harsh reality greeted my 5 am routine this morning. One of the boats had dismasted in the southern Atlantic.
I am mesmerized, like thousands of other sailors around the globe, by the progress of the boats in the 2023-2024 Global Solo Challenge. The sailing event is a single handed, non-stop, around-the-world race passing by all three of the major capes: Cape of Good Hope (South Africa), Cape Leeuwin (Australia) and Cape Horn (Chile). A seasoned sailor, I can confirm this event is not for the faint of heart, will or nerve.
In the months since the event started, there have been many breakages of varying severity. Boats have resigned from the race for a variety of reasons and pulled into safe harbour. Other than severe personal injury, or a hole in the hull, the dismasting of a sailboat is probably one of the most severe of potential damages. Without the mast and even a small amount of sail in place, sailboats become unstable in wind and high seas. A small amount of sail can stabilize the boat, moving it forward to run with the wind.
Back to this morning; news of a dismast was bad enough. Making matters worse, a major weather depression with high winds and seas would arrive within 30 hours at the vessel’s location. The sailor made the extremely difficult and heart wrenching decision to seek assistant for a rescue. The coast guard was alerted, nearby boats were notified; one nearby ship has turned around. Rescue is expected, hopefully before sunset.
Why Mindset Matters
I can’t imagine what would be going through the mind of the skipper. Options? Resources? Panic?
Sailing solo requires the ability to think clearly under the most pressing of conditions. Alone, it is essential to maintaining a calm, composed brain that can keep identifying challenges and solutions. Most importantly, you have to believe that the solutions will work or that there even is a solution.
I noticed the similarity between this skipper’s mindset and that of clients and colleagues who were successful in their goals. Most of us don’t fear for our safety in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes however, we can feel quite adrift in the personal or entrepreneurial ocean of challenges.
Managing Our Mindset
Do you believe that things will go well? If they don’t go well, do you believe you can find a solution?
Can you stay positive in the face of challenges? Can you say you will be successful?
These skills, and I do believe they are skills, take time to develop. High performance athletes work with mental performance coaches to train themselves for mental toughness. Mental strength helps them manage through fear and the weight of expectations. A “can do” mindset promotes creativity to find solutions under pressure. Faith in one’s abilities provides confidence when making decisions under pressure.
Strategies for Mental Toughness
You may not have access to a mental performance coach, however, you can still strengthen you mindset to support your goals and dreams. Here are some strategies to try. Use whichever works for you. There is no right or wrong choice.
- Practice meditation. Meditation requires mindfulness which promotes awareness. Awareness helps us notice what is working and what isn’t. With this awareness one can focus on doing more of what leads to solutions and less anything else. Meanwhile, the meditation keeps us grounded in the here and now, rather than living in fear of the future or regrets of the past. Meditation can be as simple as a walk in a forest, noticing what is happening now: birds singing, a wind blowing, the colour of the sky.
- Write down your goals, both short term and long term. When written, ambitions become tangible and real. A tangible challenge is far easier for which to create a solution than a nebulous, unclear dream.
- Break it down. Whenever something is unclear, overwhelming or frustrating, write it down and then break it down. Breaking a task, project or challenging situation into its smaller parts, helps us find a place to start. Keep breaking steps down until you find one that you can accomplish with 100% certainty.
- Read books that discuss strategies for success especially around mental toughness and a positive mindset. One of my favourites, and a simple, easy read, is Who Moved My Cheese by Sr. Spencer Johnson. I especially recommend the follow up books Out of the Maze and The Present.
Back to Reality Checkup
With a “can do” mindset and strategies that have a tried and true track record for success, most tough situations can be managed. You will find yourself committed to finding a solution and achieving success. You may also find yourself less stressed and enjoying the challenges of your entrepreneurial, other career or personal life.
Update: The sailor was rescued within 24 hours, before dark and before the storm arrived at his location.
