Part 1: The black leather chair, 3 principles of the athlete mindset

I’ve been thinking a lot about mindset lately — specifically something called the “Athlete Mindset”. 

If you’re reading this, you’re probably familiar with the term, and you likely have your own interpretation of what these words mean. But like any terminology, this phrase has the potential to become overfamiliar to the point of being a cliché. Throw words around long enough and we forget what they mean. 

Yet this concept is so much more than a nice-sounding phrase. The Athlete Mindset changed my life; it may have even saved my life. And it’s something I want to carry for the benefit of myself, my family, my colleagues, YOU, and honestly, everyone I can share it with. It’s that impactful. 

So I thought I’d take the next few newsletters and unpack this concept. I’ll share three principles that are at the heart of this mindset and how we can use it in our lives. And I’ll tell you a couple stories along the way. :-)

When I think of the words “athlete mindset” it might surprise you to know that I don’t immediately think of athletics. 

I don’t picture the gym, or bobsled, or the track, or the podium.

In fact, what comes to mind is a thick, black leather chair in a mental health counselor's office. 

Here’s the backstory:  In the late winter of 2019 my wife had been the first to notice that my behavior had changed. I was no longer waking up at 5:30am and heading straight to our basement gym. Instead, I was waking up at 5:30am and then only making it to the living room couch where my wife would randomly find me at 7:00am, having turned into a puddle on our couch. 

This was a major flag as [1] me not doing what I set out to do when waking up at 5:30am was noticeably different behavior (note: watch for material behavior changes in someone if you suspect mental health issues) and [2] physical activity is the NUMBER ONE determinant of mental health issues, according to Dr. Jessica Bartley, the USOPC’s Director of Mental Health. Here’s a great article from the Mayo Clinic for more.

In her infinite wisdom as both a psychologist and a partner, my wife recognized what would later be diagnosed as depression. She knew I needed help. 

I resisted and resisted until my athlete mindset finally kicked in. It did indeed take me longer than it should have to schedule that first appointment. Eventually, that voice inside said to me: “Steve, what the hell are you doing? You need to get a team in place again. You KNOW how to get something done”

Teamwork and collaborative problem solving are a part of sport. One of the best parts, I think. It’s also the best part about work, life, and the pursuit of awesomeness.

My bobsled team, Team Night Train as we were known back then, used to come up to Calgary for training camp a few times each summer. Those were great times. Both the focus and good training, but also the togetherness. That’s the amazing thing about teamwork: it doesn’t just allow you to do the thing. It makes the whole thing, the whole experience, better. 

When something was wrong in bobsled, I went to my team for help. If I had a torn hamstring, I wouldn’t have been expected to show up on the line and push as hard as I could. That would be preposterous. I’d get help from my coach, from my doctor, from my chiropractor and acupuncturist. I’d tend to the issue to help me recover and heal. I would not wait around on it to fix itself.

And yet, with depression, we expect ourselves to show up to work and function. To ignore the problem and just keep on going. Not surprisingly, it wasn’t working for me. I couldn’t make decisions, couldn’t think properly, couldn’t be myself — let alone be my best self.

In May of 2017, I found myself giving the eulogy for one of my gold medal teammates, Steve Holcomb, who long suffered from mental health challenges. I never really understood it fully until I experienced it myself. 

And then a year after sitting in the chair of my counselor's office talking about my need for change, I fielded another call of the passing of another teammate, Pavle Jovanovic. 

I’ve slid in the Olympic Games with 6 men. Two of them have lost their lives to the struggle.

Fortunately, my Athlete Mindset helped me listen to my wife, and seek help from a counselor. My athlete mindset helped me listen to the counselor when he talked to me about making changes that would support my mental health. And my athlete mindset helped me shift how I was looking at the whole thing. 

I finally “got it”. Just like having Tommy John surgery on my elbow didn’t make me less of an athlete—in fact, healing from those things made me a better athlete and a better person—having depression didn’t make me a lesser or weaker person or leader. 

In fact, being strong enough to admit I had to deal with something, building my team, moving through it and growing from it make me a BETTER human being and leader.

And this, to me, is the first principle of the Athlete Mindset: 

It’s the understanding that we can overcome our obstacles and succeed in life — IF we allow ourselves to have people around us.

In other words, we can achieve just about anything, but we can’t do it alone. 

In the next couple issues I’ll share principles 2 & 3 of the Athlete Mindset, drawing on stories of people who’ve inspired me and taught me invaluable lessons about this concept. 

Till then, stay safe and well. And if you ever need help for mental health or anything else going on in your life, please ask for what you need. This is how we get better. If you’re not sure where to go, message me and I’ll help as I can.

- Steve