Racing down an old country road with my heart throbbing in my chest; it climbs suddenly as another bead of sweat jumps from my brow onto my Oakleys. This time, leaving a translucent salty trail as it runs down the lens, annoyingly obscuring my vision as I approach the section of the road that has been on my mind for the last three months. I make the turn onto the fated road.

-Mindset- "I will ride again."

The image of me hurling through the air at nearly 30 miles an hour still plays vividly in my head.  The snaping sound my neck made as my head struck the fence post still sends a cold haunting shiver down my spine. As I race down the very same road today with 25 other cyclists, I have no hesitation or fear. The video playback in my head is just a brief thought.  It's a shimmer that passes through my mind.  Just like a sudden breeze over your arm while walking down the beach. I pedal faster.

-Mindset- " Better, faster, stronger."

Emotions like fear and anxiety try to build a wall in our minds. Our brain seems to put up a barrier that says, "stop, stay away, turn around!"  Some would argue that those thoughts are a safety feature, an insurance policy of self-preservation. Just pause on that for a moment... sure sometimes some caution is warranted. But, what about when that caution stands between you and your goals? I play a new image in my mind.

-Mindset- "I will persevere."

It is critical to recognize that those emotions are not real. They are conjured up by our subconscious mind. They only have power over you if you hold your awareness on them. It is that simple. When one of those unwanted emotions come in, flip the image in your mind to one of success and strength, and hold your awareness on it. I breathe easier.

-Mindset- "I control my awareness, not the other way around."

As I write this, 96 days has passed since I broke my neck in a bicycling accident while out training with my team. Today I chose to dust off the cobwebs in my lungs — left there as a result of me "taking it easy," while recovering from the fused vertebrae in my neck.  I chose to celebrate getting back to my fitness goals by going for a 50-mile ride, racing down the road with my team again. The pain in my neck disappears. I smile with the entirety of my face.

-Mindset- "Grateful for good friends who share my passion."

Takeaway: To lead others, you first have to lead yourself. Leadership begins in your mind. Our mindset plays an essential role in setting the parameters to reach your goals. Visioning and self-talk are simple tools that take seconds to employ and use in virtually any situation.

Authored By: Bob Newman