
When dedicated on the improvement of mental performance, distinguishing between thoughts and thinking is a fundamental distinction that we help our clients to understand. The difference lies in how they operate in our minds and the role we play in managing them.
Thoughts as a Noun
Thoughts are like passing clouds in the sky of our mind. They are spontaneous, often uninvited, and can be influenced by external stimuli, past experiences, or even our mood. They just appear. They are “things” we have — a fleeting moment. Thoughts occur naturally and without much effort.
Thinking as a Verb
Thinking, on the other hand, is an action — an intentional process. It’s how we engage with our thoughts, analyze them, and where they take us as we begin to focus on them. When you actively reflect, solve a problem, or reframe a challenge, you’re engaged in what we may call “helpful” thinking. However, when you feel worry, stress, performance anxiety, anger, and frustration this is also you thinking, but we may label these as “unhelpful” thinking. Unlike thoughts, thinking is something you do.
Why the Difference Matters
Control vs. Awareness: While you cannot always control your thoughts, you can do mental training that helps you control how you engage with them through thinking.
Mindfulness: This is the practice and exercise of recognizing thoughts as separate from the act of thinking, and allows you to observe them - without judgment - creating space to not only be aware of them, but to shape the control and direction we take with them.
Performance Benefits: In high-pressure situations, shifting from reactive thoughts to intentional, responsive thinking improves focus and decision-making.
By understanding this distinction, athletes and leaders can train for greater mastery of their mental responses to challenges, setbacks, and the “big moments” that we all face within the competitive arena.
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Stuart Singer, M.Ed., and PsyD is the Director of WellPerformance, a Mental Performance Coaching and Consulting practice, and the creator of the DoSo app https://t.co/R61vbpda4X . For more information regarding this topic, he can be contacted at ssinger@wellperformancecoach.com or follow him on X: @wellperformance, or Instagram: @wellperformance
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