Approach to Challenges

One of the most defining qualities of mentally strong athletes is how they approach challenges. Rather than avoiding difficulty or pressure, they step into it. Athletes with a growth mindset see challenges as opportunities to learn, improve, and discover what they’re truly capable of. Every tough situation becomes a stepping stone for growth, not a threat to their confidence or identity.

Athletes with a fixed mindset, however, often avoid challenges. They fear that failure will reveal their limitations or expose them as less talented. That fear can be paralyzing. It leads to hesitation, excuses, and missed opportunities to develop. Growth doesn’t happen when we stay comfortable—it happens when we stretch ourselves, take risks, and push forward even when things are hard.

A historic example of approaching challenges head-on was the first successful climb of Mount Everest. On May 29, 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first humans to reach the summit of the highest point on Earth. Facing sub-zero temperatures, thin air, and dangerous terrain, their achievement didn’t just change the sport of mountaineering—it redefined what people believed was possible. They embraced an enormous challenge and became legends in the process.

Fast forward to modern climbing, and one of the most awe-inspiring performances in recent history was Alex Honnold’s free solo climb of El Capitan in Yosemite. On June 3, 2017, he scaled the 3,000-foot granite wall with no ropes and no room for error. It was a feat that required extraordinary skill, composure, and mental discipline.

Honnold said:

“People think I’m fearless, but that’s not true. I still feel fear. What I do is make sure I’ve done everything I can to prepare, and then I try to approach the challenge as calmly and confidently as possible.”

His mindset reveals a powerful truth—embracing challenge isn’t about being fearless. It’s about respecting the difficulty, preparing deliberately, and deciding to face it anyway. That’s the growth mindset in action.

Whatever the sport, the lesson is the same: see the challenge in front of you, and lean in. Don’t back away—step into it. That’s where real progress is made.

This is Mental Strength.

Player

Things to Do:

• View tough matchups, new levels, or hard drills as chances to grow.

• Say to yourself: “This is hard—and that’s exactly why I’m doing it.”

• Track challenges you’ve overcome to remind yourself of your ability to adapt.

Things to Avoid:

• Don’t back off just because something feels uncomfortable.

• Avoid saying “I’m not ready” when really, you’re just nervous.

• Don’t judge your worth based on whether you succeed right away.

Parent

Things to Do:

• Encourage your athlete when they face a tough situation by saying, “This challenge will help you grow.”

• Praise effort and courage, not just the result.

• Normalize failure as part of the process.

Things to Avoid:

• Don’t bail your athlete out of every difficult situation.

• Avoid overprotecting them from failure—it removes the opportunity for growth.

• Don’t speak negatively about opponents who are more skilled; it feeds fixed mindset thinking.

Coach

Things to Do:

• Design training that challenges players to reach beyond their current level.

• Reinforce that discomfort is a part of growth.

• Celebrate improvement from hard situations, not just winning.

Things to Avoid:

• Don’t allow players to avoid reps or drills because they’re struggling.

• Avoid labeling players as “naturally talented” or “just not cut out for it.”

• Don’t treat mistakes in hard moments as reasons to bench someone—instead, use them as teaching moments.