What is the difference between playing to win and playing not to lose? When you play to win, you play boldly and loose, with the willingness to take risks without succumbing to fear. When you play not to lose, you play guarded and tight, with a hesitation to take any risks. Playing to win is proactive. Playing not to lose is reactive. Each involves an entirely different mindset, which results in different stories you repeat to yourself. One says, “I hope we win this game,” which pulls you toward a positive result. The other says, “I hope we don’t lose this game,” which pushes you toward a negative outcome.
The field of neuroscience lends itself to the belief that whatever thought is prominent in your mind, is most likely to transform itself into the world of form. Have you ever told yourself, “Don’t mess up, don’t mess up?” Then what happens? You do exactly what you were trying not to do! You mess up! When you think about how much you don’t want to lose, the thought of losing is prominent. If you think about how much you want to win, winning is the prominent thought. One thought weakens you, the other strengthens you. Your actions will subconsciously follow your conscious thoughts. Stay positive, stay loose, and always play to win!
