Beliefs Are Just Thoughts We Think A Lot

How to Train Your Mind to Achieve Your Goals

As a coach and triathlete, I’ve seen it time and time again—athletes who have the physical ability to achieve their goals but remain stuck in a cycle of doubt. They want to believe in their success, yet the evidence they look for isn’t there. Instead, they see all the reasons why they won’t achieve their dream, reinforcing the very outcome they don’t want.

But here’s the truth: Beliefs are just thoughts we think about a lot.

If we repeatedly think about our limitations, our failures, or how hard the journey is, we wire our brains to believe those thoughts as truth. And when we believe them, we act in alignment with them. That’s why it’s so easy to get stuck in self-doubt—because we keep thinking about it.

The good news? We can shift what we focus on. We can strengthen new beliefs the same way we strengthen our bodies—through consistent training. Here are three steps to help you train your mind toward the beliefs that will carry you to success:

1. Catch the Thought

Awareness is always the first step. Start paying attention to the automatic thoughts that arise when you think about your goal. Are they filled with doubt? Are they based on past failures? Do they feel heavy?

For example, if you want to qualify for Kona but keep thinking, I’m not fast enough, or I’ll never get there, recognize that these are just thoughts—not truths. Catching these thoughts in real time gives you the power to shift them.

2. Reframe with Possibility

Once you catch a limiting thought, reframe it in a way that opens the door to possibility. You don’t have to go from I’ll never qualify to I am an Ironman World Championship qualifier overnight. Instead, choose something believable yet expansive, like:
• I am capable of improving my speed and endurance.
• Every session I complete moves me closer to my goal.
• I am becoming the athlete who qualifies for Kona.

Just like in training, small adjustments lead to big results over time.

3. Repeat and Reinforce

The same way we build strength and endurance through consistent effort, we build belief by repeatedly thinking about what we want to believe. This takes patience, but every time you reinforce a positive belief, you make it stronger.

One way to solidify your new belief is to find evidence that supports it. This could be:

• A past race where you surprised yourself with your performance
• A tough workout you completed when you didn’t think you could
• Another athlete who once doubted themselves and achieved what you want to achieve

The more you focus on what’s possible, the more your mind will start looking for proof that supports it. Over time, this shifts from just a thought into a deeply held belief.

Your Mind is Your Greatest Training Ground

We train our bodies to endure, to push limits, and to adapt to stress. But if we don’t train our minds the same way, our thoughts will hold us back. Start thinking about what you want to believe, reinforce it daily, and soon, you’ll find yourself acting in alignment with the athlete you aspire to be.

What belief are you training today?