Ever stopped to take inventory of your inner dialogue? How much of it is positive, and how much is—well, not so kind?
If that question just made you cringe because you'd win the gold medal in self-criticism, don't beat yourself up about it. There's nothing wrong with you. It's normal to have negative thoughts. The challenge comes when those thoughts become a habit. Big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton summed it up perfectly:
"Make sure your worst enemy doesn't live between your own two ears."
The Brain's Running Commentary
Here's something wild: in 2020, researchers at Queen's University in Canada found that the average person has about 6,200 thoughts per day.
That's 6,200 chances to lift ourselves up—or drag ourselves down.
The problem? The brain isn't wired to be our personal hype squad. In fact, it has something called a negativity bias—a built-in tendency to focus more on what's wrong than what's right. Like it or not, our brains are designed to anticipate worst-case scenarios. It's basically an alarm system, constantly scanning for threats. And because it loves shortcuts, it often reacts before we even get a say in whether or not we can handle something.
Negative thoughts come more easily than positive ones. Positive thinking takes energy and intention to create.
The Good News: The Brain Can Change
But here's the good news: we don't have to stay stuck in these patterns. The brain can learn new tricks at any age. Even though it's great at forming habits (including negative thought loops), it's also capable of rewiring itself. That's called neural plasticity, and it means we can change the way we think—with practice.
We're not stuck with our automatic thought patterns. We're not stuck with the "always" and "never" formulas that dictate our reactions. We can create and strengthen new neural pathways that support a more constructive, confident mindset.
Step One: Pay Attention
Before we can change the way we talk to ourselves, we have to know what's actually going on in there.
So here's your challenge: start paying attention. Notice the thoughts that pop up throughout your day. Are they helping you? Or holding you back? Awareness is the first step.
Once we start tuning in, we can begin shifting our internal dialogue in a way that works for us, not against us. More on that in Part 2!
At BaseCamp, we believe that every cyclist has the potential to achieve greatness, no matter where they start. Our mission is to create a community-driven training environment where cyclists and triathletes of all levels can train together, support each other, and grow stronger, faster, and more confident in their abilities. Our cycling training programs are expert driven and tailored to your needs. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting started, BaseCamp is where you belong.
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