Rob Bell's Blog, page 22

6 Mental Toughness Hacks for Injured Athletes

6 Mental Toughness Hacks for Injured Athletes

Injuries are unfortunately a part of the world of being an athlete, even a corporate athlete.  I feel bad however when I witness so many athletes having the wrong experiences through their injury and especially returning to injury. 

 

 

Athletes will experience getting depressed. Feeling the blues, down, sad, and angry are normal, so expect it. Remind yourself that this is temporary. The Mental Toughness Hacks include being patient and say “this too shall pass.” It’s not about the setback; it’s about the comeback.

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates is  based in Indianapolis.  Some clients have included: University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. Check out the most recent book on Mental Toughness- Don’t Should on Your Kids: Build Their Mental Toughness   

 

An Attitude of Gratitude is a Myth

An Attitude of Gratitude is a Myth

Viktor Frankl was a holocaust survivor. His immediate family died in the concentration camps, but he survived. He talks at length in the amazing book- Man’s Search for Meaning -about how he survived while others did not.  

He concluded that we actually find meaning through our suffering.  Frankl stated it did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us.

It was through his suffering as a prisoner that he was obligated to find meaning, to focus on the smallest of gratitudes, like a a sunset, or a memory. 

It was NOT his Attitude of Gratitude. It was his ACTION of Gratitude.

He would have a virtual conversation every morning with his wife even though he didn’t know if she was still alive.


Prisoners who were starving would give their last pieces of bread to another to help them survive.


His freedom came as a result of his refusal to give up hope, even though survival was thin.

His attitude of gratitude was a result of his action.

We need to take certain action steps to exercise our attitude muscle.

Some of us have a greater sense of thankfulness than others, just as some of us are faster or better-looking but, what matters is are we willing to take certain steps?

Here’s some ACTION of gratitude steps:

Write out as gratitude list-  

Once we start listing our blessings, it gets tough to stop. It is too easy to focus on where we lack, or where we come up short. Basically, all advertising focuses on telling you that you need this product in order to be happy. It’s not enough to think about our gratitudes, we need to write them out.

Keep a Gratitude Jar- 

On our dining room table, we have a jar that fills up with small pieces of paper from the week. We express our gratitude for someone in the house when they do something we are thankful for.

Change the way you treat somebody- 

Want to change the way you feel about somebody, change the way you treat them. This is difficult if you have an anger or resentment toward someone, so start small, send a message, email, or ask them a different question.

Forget the weather- 

We could have a cold, brutal winter and not after a month of warming up, people will start complaining about how it’s too hot. Really? Simple action step is to find the benefit in the weather, no matter the condition. I’ve trained my family that we are mudders. We LOVE the poor weather, because we play better.

Pray and if that doesn’t work, Pray again- 

There are three kinds of prayer, 1. God- Help Me! 2. God- Give Me! and 3. God- Use Me.

Prayer is an action. Pray as if God has already given you the gift that you want, give thanks for that, and ask God to help you help others. God, Thank you for the patience that you have given me so I can be a good father and husband. 

Find The GOOD-

Basically, here’s the way to approach all challenges and obstacles….Check out the video by GOOD by Jocko

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates is  based in Indianapolis.  Some clients have included: University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. Check out the most recent book on Mental Toughness- 50 Ways to Win: pro Football’s Hinge Moments  

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It is what it is

It is what it is

I yearn for the day that someone holds up the trophy with tears in their eyes and says “it is what it is!” 

NO CHANCE. They’d be condemned. NO ONE says it is what it is when something good has happened! I’ve got a sick sense of humor. 

So it’s cool when we hear “it is what it is” because we love misery?

It means something bad has happened and this person, leader, or team has accepted the circumstance. Or worse, they’ve accepted the setback, the defeat and turned their circumstance into a condition. I can’t get better, Hey, It is what it is…

Except, mentally tough people actually use it is what it is as a starting point, not an ending point. 

It’s temporary and it’s part of the process. 

You lost, so what are you going to do about it?  Stay Bitter or Get Better? 

Some coaches after winning a championship actually have come close to the It is what it is mentality. They have sold out to the process that success is merely a byproduct, an outcome.  Not soon after their pinnacle of the season, they are back to the grind and the process. It is what it is….

It is what it is either stops us or starts us…

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates is  based in Indianapolis.  Some clients have included: University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. Check out the most recent book on Mental Toughness- 50 Ways to Win: pro Football’s Hinge Moments 

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(Infographic) Use This CAR to Drive Your Team’s Motivation

Use This CAR to Drive Your Team’s Motivation

Most coaches, executives, and owners want their team to be more self-driven and internally motivated. However, the measures that leaders employ are usually all externally driven. We often refer to outside measures to help facilitate change, namely rewards for good results or punishments for poor effort or outcomes.

If you are searching for more internal drive from your team, here are three metrics to examine. 

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates is  based in Indianapolis.  Some clients have included: University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. Check out the most recent book on Mental Toughness- 50 Ways to Win: pro Football’s Hinge Moments 

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(Video) Mental Toughness is built off of the field?

Mental Toughness is built off of the field?

Not only does our best change as we get better, but Mental Toughness also becomes more about what takes place off the field than on the field. We are who we are when we are alone.

What happens when the door comes off the Hinges? If you hear a creaky door, it’s not the door at all, it’s The Hinge.  Here is a story about the athlete that you know because he/she is simply the best athlete in town.

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates is  based in Indianapolis.  Some clients have included: University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. Check out the most recent book on Mental Toughness- 50 Ways to Win: pro Football’s Hinge Moments 

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Are We Testing OR Training Mental Toughness?

Are We Testing OR Training Mental Toughness? 

On a run the other day, I passed two people and asked them for what race that they were training. She said a half-marathon, but hedged her statement with, “as soon as I can get through my speed work.”

I gave her unsolicited advice and told her she was ready and just to sign up that night instead.

I’m not sure she agreed. I felt like an idiot so I ran faster.

She was basically doing what we all do. She was testing herself for the race instead of training for the race. She was playing the if/then game. If her runs were good enough, then she would sign up.

Testing, testing, 1…2…3…

We test the microphone. Bands do a sound check. Plays and weddings have rehearsals. The difference is that they’ve committed to the event, they are preparing. Imagine instead if a band did a sound check weeks before the event and only if that went well, then they would do the gig. However, that’s often what we do.

Teachers in school don’t give a test and then prepare you later. That’s what life does, life gives you the test first and then the lesson comes after.

When we test ourselves, we are operating under the mentality of, “Am I good enough right now?” or “If today was the event, would I be ready?”

Testing ourselves is brutally flawed thinking and it adds undue stress. The flawed thinking is that the event isn’t here yet, so while it would it be nice if we were ready, we don’t have to be. When we are testing ourselves, we are also in constant comparing mode, comparing ourselves to our future and ideal self, the one that is near perfect. Comparing ourselves to our future self also means taking us out of the moment, which is dangerous.

There’s a difference between training ourselves as opposed to testing ourselves for an event. This small shift makes a huge impact on training mental toughness.

Our preparation matches our commitment. 

Instead, when we are training ourselves instead of testing ourselves, our mindset changes. When we train, we no longer evaluate if we are ready, but approach it more as if “what do I need to work on?” Yes, we will still think about the event and compare ourselves, but now there is a context and a backdrop. Instead of testing ourselves, we are now training mental toughness.

We operate in training mode by first recognizing when we actually need to be ready. A poor training session can then be learned from because the event isn’t here yet, so we are still preparing. We are training ourselves. We are also training mental toughness by staying in the moment and not thinking too far ahead, which again adds undue stress.

Someone asked the other day if I was ready for a talk I was to give in a few days. I said,”NO, I’ll be ready then.” I wasn’t speaking at that exact moment, so I didn’t need to be ready. No need to test myself, I was still training.

I went home and prepared some more.

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates is  based in Indianapolis.  Some clients have included: University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. Click Here to check out any of his books on Mental Toughness. 

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How to Deal with Stress of the Election

How to Deal with Stress of the Election

Every four years, it happens, someone in your circle of relationships makes a joke about a liberal or a right-wing conservative and the gloves come off….It’s Election time!!  Nowadays, all it takes is a facebook or twitter post!

I work with athletes, coaches, and teams helping build mental toughness and much of what is learned in sport can be applied to life.  Frankly, the national election season brings out the worst in all of us, because it’s polarizing. There is little middle ground. It can create undue stress, and debates amongst co-workers, fiends, and family.

We may even find ourselves more anxious and argumentative during this time of year. Who knows, maybe you the one who understands it all and that is your thing. Personally, I have never enjoyed the drama that the media creates and I get pulled in.  I would rather focus my energies and attention on my relationships.

Here are a four simple, but not easy, techniques to help deal with the upcoming elections and political season. 

Be Prepared- We need to be aware that for the next 30 days, political discussion or arguments may arise from anywhere, (our clients, friends, etc.) We should simply have our guard up to NOT be argumentative and be hyper vigilante when in certain circles.
Acceptance- Know that you will not change anyone’s point of view. In actuality, when discussions start, we just dig in our heels. If if you “win” you are more likely to  just ruin a relationship or business. So accept people for their viewpoint and better yet, acknowledge their “take.” Saying something like “that’s interesting” or “can you tell me more” will go a long way in diffusing any disagreements and allowing that person to be heard.
Relax- Do you believe that no matter who is elected, the U.S.A will still operate and thrive? It is what we do. I believe in this country and it’s ability to persevere. I trust that it all works out whether republican or democrat in office. Want proof that it does, it has so far. So, relax!!!!
Listen to Johnny Cash– The one on the right is on the left, It’s a tale of  how politics can really get in the way.

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates is  based in Indianapolis.  Some clients have included: University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. Check out the most recent book on Mental Toughness- Don’t Should on Your Kids: Build Their Mental Toughness   

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My Top 5 Game Changer Albums

I took my daughter to a Rob Zombie concert because we workout together to his music. She took me to Taylor Swift; I took her to Rob Zombie.

Music is an index fossil. You’ll see from this list of my favorite albums, my approximate age, likes, and a specific period of my life. Is it odd that my favorite all-time albums are all from a certain period of my life? I still listen to music today, but now, I download singles. 

The list is my top 5 game changer albums.

Why game changer? Well, these all left a huge timestamp in society! These are the albums that could be played today and whatever song was on still crushed it. I wrote this because I guess I want my athletes today to see another side that still reveals awesomeness. Heck, any artist current or past that could release an entire album of quality music earned my respect. That’s the equivalent of having a great season rather than just a good game.

Put together your list, I’d love to hear yours.

  Jane’s Addiction (LIVE)-    The iconic hit “Jane Says” leads this entire parade of songs that mesh the different kind of guy that Perry Farrell was along with the rock sound that this album enveloped. Release date was 1987 although I didn’t first listen to it until much later. Hinge moment but new label, Epitaph records, was going to sign either Jane’s Addiction or another hollywood band Thelonious Monster. They chose to sign the latter, eeeeeek. 

 

 Beastie Boys (Paul’s Boutique)–  This hip-hop album is by far the best one of the Beastie Boys’ and it was a follow-up to License to Ill. Shake Your Rump is the party type favorite on this album, but there are sweet hits galore from these three guys from Brooklyn who earned my respect especially because they played their own instruments. Hinge Moment, but these guys were all punk, and actually had a fourth member before refining their craft and releasing License to Ill. “Dropping science like Galileo dropped the orange.” 

 

Bob Dylan (Blonde on Blonde)– Of course, the greatest song writer of all-time was going to be on this list. The issue was, which album? This was the 1st Dylan album I ever listened to, it was a double-album, and it also had my favorite tune, Visions of Johanna. It’s the closest thing to perfection from a song standpoint. “We sit here stranded, but we all do our best to deny it.” 

 

 Bad Religion (No Control)– I don’t know what type of punk music reigns supreme in today’s landscape. This is Bad Religion’s best album and close to the best punk album of all-time. You’ll need the lyrics to keep up along with a dictionary, no joke. Fast, angry, politico, & still relevant today. “If you came to conquer, you’ll be king for a day,

But you too will deteriorate and quickly fade away.

And believe these words you hear when you think your path is clear…”

 

Nirvana (Unplugged)-  MTV had acoustic sets from some of the best bands during this time. I watched this album live, and probably the last time I watched MTV honestly. Check it out. It remains such a riveting show, because it had killer covers, and displayed the genius of Kurt Cobain, which made his death not long after such a unbelievable event at the time… “Jesus don’t want me for a sunbeam.” 

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates is  based in Indianapolis.  Some clients have included: University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. Check out the most recent book on Mental Toughness- Don’t Should on Your Kids: Build Their Mental Toughness   

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What The First Female Billionaire Taught Us About Mental Toughness

(VIDEO) The First Female Billionaire Mental Toughness

How significant is the difference between one million dollars and one billion dollars? Here is a reference- A Million seconds is 11 1/2 days while a Billion seconds is 31 Years!!! Becoming a female billionaire does not happen by default, it happens by design.  Watch the video above

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates is  based in Indianapolis.  Some clients have included: University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. Check out the most recent book on Mental Toughness- Don’t Should on Your Kids: Build Their Mental Toughness   

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You’re Ruining the Car Ride Home

(Video) Parents- You’re ruining the car ride home (sorry).

It doesn’t build Mental Toughness to pile on kids after they’ve messed up. Here’s a better way…

Dr. Rob Bell is a Sport Psychology Coach. His company DRB & associates is  based in Indianapolis.  Some clients have included: University of Notre Dame, Marriott, and Walgreens. Check out the most recent book on Mental Toughness- Don’t Should on Your Kids: Build Their Mental Toughness   

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