Signs You Are Showing a Victim Mentality
The victim mentality is one that deflects responsibility, limits potential and minimizes an individual’s experience in sport and life. In order to have success and enjoy our opportunities in sport and life, we must void ourselves of the victim mindset.
Those who exhibit the victim mentality allow their experiences to take on an “all or none” element. Put another way, they view the world around them in a “black and white” fashion.
Obviously they don’t literally see the world in black and white, but they treat it that way. In their mind life, there is ME and then there is everything else.
The victim mentality pays more attention to individual stats, recognition, goals and status. It fails to consider the success of the team as the most important thing.
As I sat down to write this part of the Victim Mentality Blog, I came across a story that illustrates much of what I have been sharing in my recent posts.
In this article, which appeared on ESPN.com, Sammy Watkins Displays the Victim Mentality. If the playoffs started today, Sammy Watkins and the Buffalo Bills would be going to the post-season for the first time since 1999.
Those with this mindset fail to see what they can do to help the situation. Instead, they spend more time focusing on what other people need to do. Those with the victim mentality are often heard saying things like, “They need to _____”.
Where is your focus? How much attention do you give to your individual performance? How much consideration do you give to the overall success of the team? Are you checking stat sheets? Do you worry about starting or playing a specific role?
Most importantly, do you understand that every win and every loss is a team effort?
This is true even in individual sports. Coaches, sport psychologists, athletic trainers, strength & conditioning coaches and many other people all contribute to the success of the team or individual. Do you think about this fact? Do you thank those who assist you and/or your team?
I’ll ask one more time, do you have the victim mentality or, do you have the mind of a CHAMPION?
To learn how to build the mind of a CHAMPION, contact White House Athletics.
Train the MIND! Train the BODY! Train to WIN!
Dr. Tim White is a licensed psychologist and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant. He is known for his extensive knowledge and emphasis on the mind-body connection, most notably in the recovery from injury / return to sport process. Having worked on staff as an athletic trainer with the New York Jets, University of Utah, University of Michigan and many other professional and NCAA Division-I athletes, Dr. Tim White has the experience to prepare elite level athletes to excel on and off the field.