High Performance Mindset | Learn from World-Class Leaders, Consultants, Athletes & Coaches about Mindset - 365: How Our Interpretation Matters

Episode Date: August 24, 2020

This week Cindra joins Lisa to talk about how you cannot control what is happening in the world, but you can control its meaning and our interpretation of the events. It is the interpretation of the events that shapes your life, what you do and how you feel. You can change your interpretation to find a story that serves you better.  This week’s Power Phrase: “I pay attention to the stories I tell myself. I choose an empowering interpretation.”     

Hi, friends. My name is Dr. Sindra Kampoff, a national leader in the field of sport and performance psychology. Every week, I'm on the local radio sharing my top tips on exactly how to develop the mindset of the world's best so you can accomplish all your dreams. Get ready for a jammed, packed episode focused on practical tips to help you get after your goals and step out of your comfort zone. Let's go. How our interpretation matters. We have Cinder Kampoff on the line with us this morning. Good morning, Cinder. Good morning. It's great to be here. Well, I appreciate it. We're talking about interpretation and what inspired the topic today? Well, I've been thinking a lot about how my own

interpretation of the world really impacts how I understand it. And the things I've been thinking a lot about is, you know, COVID or if sports are happening or not and changes with school or maybe some people are going back to work like MSU is starting today. Really what we're talking about today is that life is a series of events and each event we attach a meaning. And this meaning impacts our interpretation. And really, it's the interpretation that defines who we are and what we do and how we feel. So why is it important? Well, you really can't control everything that's happening in the world, but we can control our interpretation and our meaning. So that's, I know what I can control. And so many times we interpret things in our world without even really thinking about it. And many times the stories we

tell ourselves about ourselves and the events in our lives really don't serve us. And that doesn't impact us in a good way, does it? No, it doesn't. So how would you say that this impacts our lives? Well, I would say that the interpretation of the event is really what shapes our lives. And so in other words, maybe a way to say it is, you know, it's not is really what shapes our lives. And so in other words, maybe a way to say it is, you know, it's not what's happened in our lives that makes a difference. It's really how we decide or what we decide happens. And sometimes we can just really be a victim to our interpretation of what's happening. So what's important to understand about how our brain is working when we interpret events? Well, so in neuroscience, it's called the

Habian theory. And really what this means is that maybe you've heard of somebody saying this before that cells that fire together wire together. And it really just describes how we adapt and how the interpretations we accept and we can keep reinforcing those interpretations unless we decide to change them. And that's really what we're talking about today. So when is it important to check our interpretations? So maybe right now, if you're feeling really stressed with all the changes in the world, you know, can you find the good? Can you interpret it in a good way? Or maybe there is a quality about yourself that you don't like. Can you find the positive? Or maybe you are upset with, let's say, a family member, a co-worker. And I think it's important to interpret it. Remember

that people do things because of them, not you. So maybe there's something in your life that you're down about or upset about at work. And can you find an interpretation that really serves you? That's what we're talking about today. Oh, yeah, yeah. And so do you have examples for us, something that you've done? Yes, I think right now what I'm trying to really interpret is I'm just trying to really see the good and remember that I can't control all the things that are happening in the world. So as I go back to MSU, Minnesota State University today, I'm going to make sure that I'm really interpreting in a really empowering way, not a negative way.

Reframe it. I like it. How do you summarize today? We can't control what's happening in the world, but we can control the meaning that we place around things and our interpretation. And that's really what shapes our lives, and it shapes what we do and how we feel. So I think the key today is to remember that you can change your interpretation of a story and find an interpretation that really serves you. And what's the power phrase that you came up with this week? I pay attention to the stories I tell myself. I choose an empowering interpretation. I hope that for you as you're heading off to your first day of school. Good luck to you. And where do people find you for more information?

Where can they go? You can head over to Dr. Sindra. So drcindra.com. Well, you put your backpack on and get out the door, Sindra. We'll talk to you next time. Bye, Lisa. Way to go for finishing another episode of the High Performance Mindset. I'm giving you a virtual fist pump. Holy cow, did that go by way too fast for anyone else? If you want more, remember to subscribe. And you can head over to Dr. Sindhra for show notes. And to join my exclusive community for high performers, where you get access to videos about mindset each week.

So again, you can head over to Dr. Sindhra. That's D-R-C-I-N-D-R-A.com. See you next week.