Hey everyone,
Herb Perez here – Olympic Taekwondo champion and firm believer that the most important battles we fight aren't always on the mat.
Let's talk about growth mindset. It's a fancy term, but it boils down to something simple: believing that your talents and abilities aren't set in stone. You can get smarter, get stronger, and become a better athlete – and a better person – with hard work and the right attitude.
Back when I was training for the Olympics, I hit plenty of roadblocks. Losses that stung, techniques that just wouldn't click, days when I felt so frustrated I wanted to chuck my sparring gear out the window. Those moments, those were my biggest tests. I could have easily given in, blaming my failures on a lack of natural talent or some stroke of bad luck. But deep down, I knew I had a choice: Stagnate with excuses or use those setbacks as fuel for growth.
A growth mindset isn't about always feeling cheerful or ignoring the sting of failure. It's about looking at those hard times as valuable lessons, as opportunities disguised in frustration. It's asking yourself:
What specifically can I learn from this? Is there a pattern to my mistakes?
Are there adjustments to my training plan that would help? Maybe I need more rest or a tweak to my nutrition.
Could I benefit from the guidance of a specialist? A coach with expertise in a specific technique or a sports psychologist to help me manage the mental game?
With these questions as my compass, I tackled my struggles head-on. Instead of wallowing in self-doubt, I focused relentlessly on the concrete actions I could take to improve. Small victories started piling up, fueling my motivation. That stubborn technique? One day, it started to click. My stamina? It improved incrementally with every grueling training session.
Let me tell you, a growth mindset isn't just for those chasing Olympic dreams. It's a life philosophy that can propel you forward in every area. A tough subject at school? Maybe you need to try a different study method or find a tutor. A new skill you're trying to master? Break it down into smaller steps and celebrate even the tiniest bit of progress. A personal challenge that feels overwhelming? Embrace the struggle as part of the process and remember, every big journey starts with a single step.
The gold medal wasn't the pinnacle for me. Sure, it was an incredible achievement, a testament to years of work. But more importantly, it was proof that by refusing to accept limitations, by always pushing myself to learn and evolve, I could push further than I ever thought possible. It was proof that a growth mindset works. And guess what? It can work for you too.
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