Mindset Mondays: Bill Beswick — Defining Sports Psychology

Bill Beswick is a British applied sports psychologist, educator, and coach known for his work in team performance, elite sport, and coaching development.

What is sports psychology?

Beswick says a sports psychologist is someone who helps athletes, teams, and coaches improve their performance by helping them overcome mental and emotional barriers. His goal is to make better athletes and better people who are more able to write their own story in a positive and effective way.

We all have barriers that we have to remove to become our best selves, and sports psychologists help us remove those barriers.

But how?

Beswick says he helps athletes change the way they think by giving them another language or framework they can use to talk to and coach themselves. 

The Framework

Beswick follows a simple 3 question framework:

1 - What do you want?

2 - How badly do you want?

3 - How much are you willing to suffer?

Beswick’s three questions work because they cut straight to motivation, commitment, and reality — the three things that actually determine behavior under pressure. They’re simple, but psychologically sharp.

Psychologically, the brain performs better when the goal is clear, specific, and personally meaningful. We want to be successful, but have you clearly defined what success means to you, and do you want it bad enough that you are willing to change or create new habits that might be uncomfortable?

Are you willing to reasonably — or unreasonably — suffer to become successful?

The Language

The language Beswick uses to drive performance is Fighter’s Mindset vs Victim’s Mindset. He said every day, we have to make a decision to either be a fighter or a victim. We have to fight to become the best version of ourselves, or become a victim to our circumstances.

Know what you want to do and who you want to become, create a plan, identify the barriers or obstacles in your way, and determine now to be a fighter who overcomes them all, knowing that you will have to suffer some to make it happen.

Reflection Question(s):

1 - What is one goal you have for yourself?
2 - What is one thing you have to do consistently to make it happen?

3 - What is one barrier or obstacle in your way?

4 - What can you do to fight to overcome that barrier or obstacle?