Alex Honnold & Tommy Caldwell Teach Rock Climbing

Alexis Ohanian Teaches Building Your Startup

Bob Iger Teaches Business Strategy and Leadership

Chris Hadfield Teaches Space Exploration

Coach K Teaches Values-Driven Leadership

Critical Leadership Training with Navy SEAL Officer Jocko Willink

Daniel Negreanu Teaches Poker

Daniel Pink Teaches Sales and Persuasion

Danny Elfman Teaches Music for Film

Diane von Furstenberg Teaches Building a Fashion Brand

Donna Farhi Teaches Yoga Foundations

Elaine Welteroth Teaches Designing Your Career

Garry Kasparov Teaches Chess

Geno Auriemma Teaches Leading Winning Teams

Hillary Rodham Clinton Teaches The Power of Resilience

Howard Schultz Business Leadership

Issa Rae Teaches Creating Outside the Lines

Jessie Krebs Teaches Wilderness Survival

Joan Benoit Samuelson Teaches the Runner’s Mindset

Joe Holder Teaches Fitness and Wellness Fundamentals

John Douglas Teaches How to Think Like an FBI Profiler

Jon Kabat-Zinn Teaches Mindfulness and Meditation

Lewis Hamilton Teaches a Winning Mindset

Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing

Mellody Hobson Teaches Strategic Decision-Making

Navigating Change

Phil Ivey Teaches Poker Strategy

President Bill Clinton Teaches Inclusive Leadership

Robin Arzón Teaches Mental Strength

Robin Roberts Teaches Effective and Authentic Communication

Rosalind Brewer Teaches Business Innovation

Roxane Gay Teaches Writing for Social Change

Sara Blakely Teaches Self-Made Entrepreneurship

Serena Williams Teaches Tennis

Simone Biles Teaches Gymnastics Fundamentals

Stephen Curry Teaches Shooting, Ball-Handling, and Scoring

Tackle the Hard Conversations With Radical Candor®

Terence Tao Teaches Mathematical Thinking

The Power of Empathy With Pharrell Williams and Noted Co-Instructors

Tony Hawk Teaches Skateboarding

Usher Teaches The Art of Performance

Wayne Gretzky Teaches the Athlete's Mindset

Meet Your Instructor: Jessie Krebs

The Healing Power of the Wilderness

Final Thoughts

Buoyancy: Develop a Resilient Mindset

Mental Toughness

Overcoming Mental Blocks

Find a Superhero

Extinguishing Limitations & Empowering Others

Meet Your Instructor

Overcoming Setbacks

Choosing a Life of Resilience

Beyond the Finish Line

The Future of Skateboarding

Ariel Investments Case Study Part 4: Hope is Not a Plan

Why Change Is Difficult

How to Overcome Uncertainty

How to Deal with Failure

Living Life With Optimism and Resiliency

Cultivate a Candid Culture

Understand Radical Candor

Build Resilience for Growth

Navigating Cancel Culture

Closing

Bounce Back From a Loss

Failing and Pivoting

A Meditation for Navigating Change

Pep Talk: You Ready to Do This?

Meet Your Instructor 

How to Embrace Both Success and Failure

Sara’s Survival Guide

Grow From Failure

Survival Mindset

Decision-Making and Prioritization

Present Yourself for Opportunity

Introduction

Leadership: Commanding the ISS

Organizing a Busy Life 

Developing Intuition

Making Calculated Decisions: The Atlanta Child Murders

Making Reads: Adapt to the Situation

Leadership is About Human Interaction

Extreme Ownership

Leadership Law 1: Cover and Move

Improve Decision-Making Under Pressure

Facing Criticism

Taking Criticism Seriously, Not Personally

Bonus: Resilience in Action with Huma Abedin

When Your Story Enters the World

New Manager 101

Writer’s Workshop: Feedback

Ask for and Receive Feedback

Give Criticism Effectively

Improve Responsiveness to Feedback

Developing a Framework for Leadership

Jump In

Enact a Learning Mindset for Innovation

Knocking 'Entrepreneur' Off its Pedestal

Speaking Up and Standing Up

The Importance of Risk-Taking

Building an Effective Team

Thrive in a Competitive Environment

Phil’s Journey

Strategies for Success

How to Analyze

Guided Meditation: Putting Out the Welcome Mat

Maintaining a Mindfulness Practice

Introduction: Write Your Own Story

Conclusion: The Journey Towards Perfection

Meet Your Instructor: Donna Farhi

Working With Coaches

Creativity Over Structure

Play It Forward

Meet Your Instructor: Robin Arzón

Pay It Forward

Time-Out: Planning Your Next Play

Introduction - Focus and Desire

Making Of A Winner

Biomotor Skills: The Foundation of Physical Health

Catalysts for Success

Don’t Be a Gumby 

The Power of Influences & Inspiration

Use Sports Lessons in Your Daily Life

Sports & Athletics

Teaches Wilderness Survival

Jessie Krebs

Teaches Poker Strategy

Phil Ivey

Teaches Chess

Garry Kasparov

Teaches Shooting, Ball-Handling, and Scoring

Stephen Curry

Teaches Ballet Technique and Artistry

Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland Teaches Ballet Technique and Artistry

With Noted Pros

Bet Smart: Top Sports Betting Strategies

Teaches Gymnastics Fundamentals

Simone Biles

Teaches the Athlete's Mindset

Wayne Gretzky

Teaches the Athlete’s Mindset

Teaches Mental Strength

Robin Arzón

Teaches the Runner’s Mindset

Joan Benoit Samuelson

Teaches Skateboarding

Tony Hawk

Teaches Values-Driven Leadership

Coach K

The Greatest of All Time

GOAT

Teaches Tennis

Serena Williams

Teaches Fitness and Wellness Fundamentals

Joe Holder

Teaches Leading Winning Teams

Geno Auriemma

Teach Rock Climbing

Alex Honnold & Tommy Caldwell

Teaches a Winning Mindset

Lewis Hamilton

Teaches Effective and Authentic Communication

Robin Roberts

https://players.brightcove.net/5344802162001/1cMNiwC9oQ_default/index.html?videoId=6161448971001

Several factors influence a person’s ability to enact behavioral change. Learn how to make a commitment to change and ways to support mental wellness when navigating change.

Can People Change? How to Enact Change in 3 Steps

Change is growing into a person with new values, [perspectives](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-shift-your-perspective-to-have-a-positive-outlook), or behavior patterns. Individual life experiences and teachings can easily inspire positive change, but change can also be challenging. By nature, change involves stepping out of comfort zones and sacrificing emotional stability. You can realize change with time, hard work, and the support of loved ones.
Human beings are capable of change, sometimes to extraordinary degrees. Personality traits, political convictions, and bad [habits](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-build-a-habit) may be deeply ingrained, but they can change. People can gradually shift their agreeableness and conscientiousness and instill new behaviors through experiences, teachings, and therapy.
Individuals have parts of themself that are easier to change than others. For example, Person A may be able to change their level of [extroversion](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-an-extrovert) better than Person B, but Person B may be more open to trying out self-help techniques than Person A. Core personality traits, emotional responses, and mental health disorders are aspects of human nature most difficult to change.

People are more malleable to change habits and perspectives if they feel support and care from others. Talking to loved ones or a therapist about a change you want to make is helpful. If you approach others about the prospect of change, it is essential to lead with grace and generosity. Real change takes great effort, and having a sincere, private, and loving conversation is one way both parties can take steps toward better understanding and change for the greater good.
How long it takes for someone to change depends on their desire to change and personal circumstances. Psychotherapy can help give people the tools to embody change, speeding up the process, but change is an ongoing and lifelong habit that requires continuous support.
Actual change necessitates three crucial steps: a desire to change, support for change, and reinforcement to ensure the new behavior turns into a habit. 

1. __A desire to change__: The desire to change may spring from a person’s own desire or external factors. If you want to make a change, voicing your desire to family members or loved ones is a crucial first step. To encourage change in someone else, speak directly with the person about the change you want to see and how current habits are straining a relationship and the person’s well-being. Seeing how your habits affect others is a way to spark urgency in the person’s desire to change.
2. __Support for change__: The process of change can make a person feel vulnerable, so it is essential to have support to promote mental health. Therapy, encouraging words from loved ones, and celebrating clear markers of success are all ways to support and enable positive change.
3. __Sustaining change__: Finally, reinforcement is vital to maintaining change. Asking people how new habits suit them and telling them how significantly they have grown act as helpful reminders reinforcing the benefits of change.
Figuring out what you want to do next and how to get there? Learn how to embrace your passions with a [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and find the grit to take control of your life with exclusive access to video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Robin Arzón, Elaine Welteroth, Hillary Rodham Clinton, RuPaul, and more.
Several factors influence a person’s ability to enact behavioral change. Learn how to make a commitment to change and ways to support mental wellness when navigating change.

Change is growing into a person with new values, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-shift-your-perspective-to-have-a-positive-outlook' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-shift-your-perspective-to-have-a-positive-outlook","linkCopy":"perspectives","category":null}'>perspectives</a>, or behavior patterns. Individual life experiences and teachings can easily inspire positive change, but change can also be challenging. By nature, change involves stepping out of comfort zones and sacrificing emotional stability. You can realize change with time, hard work, and the support of loved ones.

What Is Change?

Human beings are capable of change, sometimes to extraordinary degrees. Personality traits, political convictions, and bad <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-build-a-habit' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-build-a-habit","linkCopy":"habits","category":null}'>habits</a> may be deeply ingrained, but they can change. People can gradually shift their agreeableness and conscientiousness and instill new behaviors through experiences, teachings, and therapy.

Can People Change?

Individuals have parts of themself that are easier to change than others. For example, Person A may be able to change their level of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-an-extrovert' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-an-extrovert","linkCopy":"extroversion","category":null}'>extroversion</a> better than Person B, but Person B may be more open to trying out self-help techniques than Person A. Core personality traits, emotional responses, and mental health disorders are aspects of human nature most difficult to change.People are more malleable to change habits and perspectives if they feel support and care from others. Talking to loved ones or a therapist about a change you want to make is helpful. If you approach others about the prospect of change, it is essential to lead with grace and generosity. Real change takes great effort, and having a sincere, private, and loving conversation is one way both parties can take steps toward better understanding and change for the greater good.

Are There Parts of Us More Malleable to Change?

How long it takes for someone to change depends on their desire to change and personal circumstances. Psychotherapy can help give people the tools to embody change, speeding up the process, but change is an ongoing and lifelong habit that requires continuous support.

How Long Does it Take to Change?

Actual change necessitates three crucial steps: a desire to change, support for change, and reinforcement to ensure the new behavior turns into a habit. <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. A desire to change: The desire to change may spring from a person’s own desire or external factors. If you want to make a change, voicing your desire to family members or loved ones is a crucial first step. To encourage change in someone else, speak directly with the person about the change you want to see and how current habits are straining a relationship and the person’s well-being. Seeing how your habits affect others is a way to spark urgency in the person’s desire to change. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Support for change: The process of change can make a person feel vulnerable, so it is essential to have support to promote mental health. Therapy, encouraging words from loved ones, and celebrating clear markers of success are all ways to support and enable positive change. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Sustaining change: Finally, reinforcement is vital to maintaining change. Asking people how new habits suit them and telling them how significantly they have grown act as helpful reminders reinforcing the benefits of change. </li></ol>

How to Change in 3 Steps

Figuring out what you want to do next and how to get there? Learn how to embrace your passions with a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and find the grit to take control of your life with exclusive access to video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Robin Arzón, Elaine Welteroth, Hillary Rodham Clinton, RuPaul, and more.

You’re Worth It

Several factors influence a person’s ability to enact behavioral change. Learn how to make a commitment to change and ways to support mental wellness when navigating change.

Several factors influence a person’s ability to enact behavioral change. Learn how to make a commitment to change and ways to support mental wellness when navigating change.


Two African American women sitting on a park bench discussing life change. 

can-people-change

A mindset is a person’s established rules, attitudes, and world views. A person’s mindset matters because it supports sound [decision-making](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/decision-making-styles) and determines a point of view. Successful people rely on a [positive outlook](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-shift-your-perspective-to-have-a-positive-outlook) that prioritizes [mental health](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-mental-health) and [self-improvement](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-work-on-yourself). Positive mindsets allow you to step outside your comfort zone and navigate challenging situations.

Negative mindsets, however, are pessimistic: They feed into [self-doubt](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/self-doubt) and [negative thoughts](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cognitive-distortions). Understanding why your mood changes from time to time and how to control it aids with [positive thinking](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/positive-thinking) and personal growth. There are many ways to establish a positive mindset—from getting exercise to journaling periodically—and doing so can beneficially change your life, outlook, and trajectory.
It is possible to change your mindset from a negative to a positive one or vice versa. Fixed mindsets can be dangerous as they inhibit growth. People often want a mindset change when stuck in a rut, learning new skills, or dealing with negative self-talk. These shifts are a series of small steps that require patience, and instating healthy habits and a new mindset can help foster [optimism](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/optimism) and a [growth mindset](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/growth-mindset-explained). 

Mindsets can also slip from positive to negative ones. This can happen when a person has challenges at home or work or is experiencing depression, anxiety, or self-doubt. You may think bad things and long for more brightness and excitement. Consider [therapy](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-to-expect-from-therapy), and assess your habits and lifestyle to deduce what gives you joy and causes stress.
Mindset shifts happen over time. Everyone has a unique perspective, experience, and situation, so you cannot easily gauge how long it will take for each person’s mindset to change. New habits and lifestyle changes inform mindsets; generally, [building habits](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-build-a-habit) can take a few weeks or months. 

Revisit and reframe your mindset to check your mood and what you’ve learned through your experiences. Track and take pride in your growth: little steps, fresh feelings, and reflective journaling illuminate a way forward to solidify a new way of [thinking](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-thinking) outside your comfort zone.
To improve your mindset, try these activities:

1. __Embrace change__. Changing your mindset may mean [making new friends](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-friends), leaving a job, or moving to a new area. This can be logistically complex, but if you embrace it, you can come out on the other side stronger and healthier than before.
2. __Set goals__. A healthy mindset can make [goals](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/setting-goals) more attainable, so write out what you want so you can see it in print and act to work toward it. Break down your goals into smaller, accomplished steps, so you set yourself up for success.
3. __Surround yourself with positive people__. Friends and family who think positively will prove necessary in changing your mindset. If negative people surround you, their habits will rub off on you and make self-improvement more challenging.
4. __Take walks__. A good walk can clear your head, put things in perspective, and give you some easy exercise. Daily exercise can help you think more clearly and release [endorphins](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/endorphins-explained) to uplift your mood.
5. __Talk out your feelings__. Changing a mindset can be hard work. Talk to a friend or therapist and express your feelings. Indulge in long phone calls with loved ones, or try [keeping a journal](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-start-and-keep-a-journal) to articulate how you feel.
Figuring out what you want to do next and how to get there? Learn how to embrace your passions with a [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and find the grit to take control of your life with exclusive access to video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Robin Arzón, Elaine Welteroth, Hillary Rodham Clinton, RuPaul, and more.
Values and attitudes inform your mindset, guiding how you navigate problems and interactions with others. Learn how to change your mindset with a few techniques.

Values and attitudes inform your mindset, guiding how you navigate problems and interactions with others. Learn how to change your mindset with a few techniques.

How to Change Your Mindset: 5 Ways to Change Your Mindset

A mindset is a person’s established rules, attitudes, and world views. A person’s mindset matters because it supports sound <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/decision-making-styles' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/decision-making-styles","linkCopy":"decision-making","category":null}'>decision-making</a> and determines a point of view. Successful people rely on a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-shift-your-perspective-to-have-a-positive-outlook' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-shift-your-perspective-to-have-a-positive-outlook","linkCopy":"positive outlook","category":null}'>positive outlook</a> that prioritizes <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-mental-health' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-mental-health","linkCopy":"mental health","category":null}'>mental health</a> and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-work-on-yourself' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-work-on-yourself","linkCopy":"self-improvement","category":null}'>self-improvement</a>. Positive mindsets allow you to step outside your comfort zone and navigate challenging situations.Negative mindsets, however, are pessimistic: They feed into <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/self-doubt' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/self-doubt","linkCopy":"self-doubt","category":null}'>self-doubt</a> and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cognitive-distortions' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cognitive-distortions","linkCopy":"negative thoughts","category":null}'>negative thoughts</a>. Understanding why your mood changes from time to time and how to control it aids with <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/positive-thinking' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/positive-thinking","linkCopy":"positive thinking","category":null}'>positive thinking</a> and personal growth. There are many ways to establish a positive mindset—from getting exercise to journaling periodically—and doing so can beneficially change your life, outlook, and trajectory.

What Is a Mindset?

It is possible to change your mindset from a negative to a positive one or vice versa. Fixed mindsets can be dangerous as they inhibit growth. People often want a mindset change when stuck in a rut, learning new skills, or dealing with negative self-talk. These shifts are a series of small steps that require patience, and instating healthy habits and a new mindset can help foster <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/optimism' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/optimism","linkCopy":"optimism","category":null}'>optimism</a> and a <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/growth-mindset-explained' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/growth-mindset-explained","linkCopy":"growth mindset","category":null}'>growth mindset</a>. Mindsets can also slip from positive to negative ones. This can happen when a person has challenges at home or work or is experiencing depression, anxiety, or self-doubt. You may think bad things and long for more brightness and excitement. Consider <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-to-expect-from-therapy' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-to-expect-from-therapy","linkCopy":"therapy","category":null}'>therapy</a>, and assess your habits and lifestyle to deduce what gives you joy and causes stress.

Is It Possible to Change Your Mindset?

Mindset shifts happen over time. Everyone has a unique perspective, experience, and situation, so you cannot easily gauge how long it will take for each person’s mindset to change. New habits and lifestyle changes inform mindsets; generally, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-build-a-habit' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-build-a-habit","linkCopy":"building habits","category":null}'>building habits</a> can take a few weeks or months. Revisit and reframe your mindset to check your mood and what you’ve learned through your experiences. Track and take pride in your growth: little steps, fresh feelings, and reflective journaling illuminate a way forward to solidify a new way of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-thinking' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/types-of-thinking","linkCopy":"thinking","category":null}'>thinking</a> outside your comfort zone.

How Long Does It Take to Change Your mindset?

To improve your mindset, try these activities:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Embrace change. Changing your mindset may mean <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-friends' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-friends","linkCopy":"making new friends","category":null}'>making new friends</a>, leaving a job, or moving to a new area. This can be logistically complex, but if you embrace it, you can come out on the other side stronger and healthier than before. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Set goals. A healthy mindset can make <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/setting-goals' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/setting-goals","linkCopy":"goals","category":null}'>goals</a> more attainable, so write out what you want so you can see it in print and act to work toward it. Break down your goals into smaller, accomplished steps, so you set yourself up for success. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Surround yourself with positive people. Friends and family who think positively will prove necessary in changing your mindset. If negative people surround you, their habits will rub off on you and make self-improvement more challenging. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Take walks. A good walk can clear your head, put things in perspective, and give you some easy exercise. Daily exercise can help you think more clearly and release <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/endorphins-explained' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/endorphins-explained","linkCopy":"endorphins","category":null}'>endorphins</a> to uplift your mood. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 5. Talk out your feelings. Changing a mindset can be hard work. Talk to a friend or therapist and express your feelings. Indulge in long phone calls with loved ones, or try <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-start-and-keep-a-journal' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-start-and-keep-a-journal","linkCopy":"keeping a journal","category":null}'>keeping a journal</a> to articulate how you feel. </li></ol>

How to Change Your Mindset: 5 Ways to Improve Mindset

Values and attitudes inform your mindset, guiding how you navigate problems and interactions with others. Learn how to change your mindset with a few techniques.

Values and attitudes inform your mindset, guiding how you navigate problems and interactions with others. Learn how to change your mindset with a few techniques.


A person on a morning walk with their dog.

how-to-change-your-mindset

Known as “The Great One,” Wayne Douglas Gretzky made NHL history over his twenty-one-year career and set himself apart as one of the most accomplished professional athletes. Born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, Wayne started playing junior hockey at a young age. At age seventeen, the World Hockey Association drafted Wayne for the Indianapolis Racers; the WHA eventually folded, and Wayne’s next team, the Edmonton Oilers, joined the National Hockey League.

After playing for the Oilers for a decade and breaking NHL records, the league traded Wayne to the Los Angeles Kings, and he played for them from 1988–1996. In 1996, he played for the St. Louis Blues before heading to the New York Rangers as a free agent. He gave three years to that team before ending his superstar NHL career. Heralded as one of the best ice hockey players of all time, the Hockey Hall of Fame admitted Wayne upon retirement in 1999, having led his teams to four Stanley Cup championships.  Wayne was the Phoenix Coyotes' head coach, breaking multiple scoring records. He also worked on numerous Winter Olympics hockey teams.
An athlete mindset is a form of mental preparedness that helps athletes train, face opponents, and perform at their best. The greatest athletes have their own athlete mindset, which may vary from person to person, but the central tenets stay consistent. These may include strict warm-ups and practice regiments to accomplish daily, steps to improve mental performance, and ways to reward hard work. Hence, athletes know when to check out and prioritize their well-being and [mental health](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-mental-health).

This mindset is something elite athletes curate to achieve their peak performance, although everyone from high school athletes to world-class Olympians may create their version of this [growth mindset](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/growth-mindset-explained). In sports, mental skills are just as necessary as physical ones, so this mindset is instrumental in fueling a player’s [self-confidence](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-build-confidence) and preparing them for future games.
The athlete mindset offers a way to:

- __Create rewards__: Athletes create mile markers to celebrate meeting their goals. This lets them take time off to recharge and recenter, and in future difficulties, these rewards act as a reminder of past successes.
- __Establish milestones__: Athletes cannot achieve significant [career goals](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/personal-development-plan) in one day. Long-term goals require planning, which is why milestones are essential. They are the stepping stones for athletes to work toward to see their success unfold.
- __Maintain wellness__: An athlete’s mindset helps athletes to practice discipline and helps to separate the sport from personal life. A healthy perspective protects one’s overall health.
- __Practice consistently__: The athlete mindset also has athletes set their regimens. Routines allow predictability and consistency, which can be comforting in a fast-paced and demanding workout schedule.
- __Train harder__: Having the mental strength to know limits lets athletes push themselves safely. The athlete mindset invites trainers to set schedules, so goals are doable instead of pressurizing.

> “You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take.” — Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky shares how to develop a sterling athlete mindset. Consider Wayne’s tips:

1. __Celebrate teamwork__. As the old saying goes, there is no “I” in team, but more importantly, internal competition can corrode athletic spirit and victory. Wayne says, “For the success of any championship team, there has to be a commitment as a group that you’re going to be the hardest-working group and the hardest-working team to play against.”
2. __Develop a routine__. Routines can be hyper-specific to each athlete. Beyond superstitions, routines give a sense of sturdiness to one’s practice and structure to one’s day. Wayne says, “I always found that the routine was the best thing. I really didn’t change my routine from the time I was a youngster to the day I retired. You know, for me, it was putting on the skate: the left skate first, and then putting in my left shin pads, and then putting on my right skate, and my right shin pad.”
3. __Hone mental strength__. Mental preparedness is as vital as physical preparedness. It is easy to get distracted, and mental strength is crucial to the athlete's mindset. “You have to have the right frame of mind,” Wayne shares. “You have to be strong-willed, and you have to believe that the practice you’re putting in and the time you put in is going to make you a better player and a better team the next day.” 
4. __Practice, practice, practice__. Every athlete must put in the time to make it to the big leagues. “Whether you’re a professional athlete or an athlete playing for fun, that repetition is everything,” Wayne says. “Practice is part of the makeup that makes great athletes. I don’t think any great athlete in the world will sit here and tell you that they don’t practice hard.” 
5. __Set attainable goals__: “I think the reality is to make our goals attainable one step at a time,” Wayne says. Players can set themselves up for success by working backward from a goal. If someone is training for a marathon in four months, that runner may consider what they need to do each day to maintain stamina and finish 26.2 miles in a way that works for their body. Unattainable goals can dampen spirits because the person who set them may not be able to reach them.
6. __Take the shot__. Wayne’s famous quote, “You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don’t take,” speaks about the importance of taking chances, which is applicable in and outside the hockey rink. “The quote is unique in that Glen Sather and John Muckler, the coaches in Edmonton, my father, Walter, some of my teammates—the one thing that they would continuously tell me [is], you should shoot more. You got to shoot more,” Wayne says. “You should get more selfish. You should shoot more.”
Want to become a better athlete? The [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) provides exclusive video lessons from the world’s best athletes, including Wayne Gretzky, Serena Williams, Stephen Curry, Tony Hawk, Misty Copeland, and more.
In sports psychology, elite athletes develop their athlete mindset, a form of mental toughness to train their minds and bodies to take their skills to the next level. Learn NHL star Wayne Gretzky’s tips for developing an athlete mindset.

In sports psychology, elite athletes develop their athlete mindset, a form of mental toughness to train their minds and bodies to take their skills to the next level. Learn NHL star Wayne Gretzky’s tips for developing an athlete mindset.

Athlete Mindset: Wayne Gretzky’s on the Athlete Mindset

In sports psychology, elite athletes develop their athlete mindset, a form of mental toughness to train their minds and bodies to take their skills to the next level. Learn NHL star Wayne Gretzky’s tips for developing an athlete mindset.

In sports psychology, elite athletes develop their athlete mindset, a form of mental toughness to train their minds and bodies to take their skills to the next level. Learn NHL star Wayne Gretzky’s tips for developing an athlete mindset.


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Improve Your Mental Game

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Spring Forward Sale: Get 40% off

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