The Fortitude Chronicle: A Weekly Digest of Athletic Determination

Monday’s Mindset

The Science Of Identity Engineering

As I've worked with athletes over the years, I've come to realize a profound truth: to become the person you want to be, you must live the life of that person today. It's not about waiting for success to arrive; it's about embodying your future self right now.

I've made it a cornerstone of my coaching to help athletes engineer their ideal identity. This isn't just positive thinking—it's a deliberate process of aligning thoughts, words, and actions with the vision of who they aspire to be.

The laws of expectation and attraction play a crucial role in this transformation. When we focus our attention on where we want to go, our brain naturally seeks out and attracts elements that align with that vision. It's as if we're programming our internal GPS to guide us toward our desired destination.

This process begins with our thoughts. I encourage my athletes to cultivate a mindset that reflects their aspirational self. What would the best version of you think about? How would they approach challenges? By consistently thinking in alignment with this ideal, we lay the foundation for change.

Words are the next powerful tool in this identity engineering. The language we use shapes our reality. I work with athletes to develop a vocabulary that reinforces their desired identity. When they speak as if they've already achieved their goals, it creates a powerful cognitive shift. It gets us one step closer

But thoughts and words alone aren't enough. Actions are where the rubber meets the road. I challenge my athletes to behave in ways that are consistent with their aspirational identity. What daily habits would the person you want to become cultivate? What decisions would they make? By taking these actions consistently, we bridge the gap between who we are and who we want to be.

As we align our thoughts, words, and actions, something remarkable happens. Success becomes inevitable. It's not about luck or chance; it's about creating an internal environment where achievement is the natural outcome.

The real battle, I've found, is not against external obstacles but against ourselves. When we work to conquer our limiting beliefs, our fears, and our old patterns, we clear the path for our ideal self to emerge. It's a process of continuous self-improvement and self-mastery.

In my experience, this approach creates a powerful momentum. As athletes begin to embody their aspirational identity, they start to attract opportunities and resources that further reinforce this new self. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy in the best possible way.

Ultimately, I've seen time and time again that when we commit to this process of identity engineering, who we want to be inevitably becomes who we are. It's not always easy, and it requires persistence and patience. But for those willing to do the work, the transformation is profound and lasting.

This is the essence of true personal growth—not just achieving external goals, but becoming the person capable of achieving those goals and more. It's a journey of self-discovery and self-creation, and it's the most rewarding work we can undertake.

Two Quotes

1. "The emotionally immature man seeks motivation to do something hard one time, the emotionally mature man uses discipline to do something hard a thousand times." - Chris Williamson

2. Excellence is not a gift, but a skill that takes practice. We do not act ‘rightly’ because we are ‘excellent’, in fact we achieve ‘excellence’ by acting ‘rightly.' - Plato

Three Tweets

To Building Fortitude.

 Best Regards,

Colin Jonov, Founder & CEO Athletic Fortitude