5. March 2026

Are You A Destructive Thinker?

Dr Lottie Miles

In our last post, we talked about how your beliefs dictate how intimidating a workout can feel. Many of you will resonate with the more negative perceptions and beliefs that surround exercise and tough workouts.  This post will help you frame your destructive thoughts...
Here are some practical tips for swapping Destructive Thinking (irrational, exaggerated thoughts) into Smart Thinking (logical, pragmatic views)...

According to research by Turner & Barker (2014), there are four key shifts you can make today to lower the mental "cost" of your training:

1. Swap Rigid Demands for Flexible Thinking

• Destructive: "I have to hit this lift."
• Smart: "I’d like to hit the lift, but if I don’t, I’m still putting in the work and making progress."

2. Stop "Awfulising"

• Destructive: "If I fail this rep, it’ll be a total disaster."
• Smart: "Failing a rep is annoying, but it’s not a catastrophe. It’s just information for next time."

3. Build Your Frustration Tolerance

• Destructive: "I can't bare to exercise when I’m tired and sleep deprived."
• Smart: "I’d prefer to be energised, but I can still get through the class without it."

4. Separate Your Self-Worth from the Outcome

• Destructive: "Scaling this workout makes me a failure."
• Smart: "Scaling today might be what my body needs; it doesn’t define who I am."

The Power of "But"

Notice how "Smart Thinking" uses the word but a lot. It gives you "wiggle room." You can want success but accept that the world won’t end if you fall short. By removing the "musts" and "shoulds," you lower the mental pressure, making it much easier to actually show up.

Which of these four shifts do you need most this week? Let me know in the comments, and stay tuned for our next post on boosting your "Coping Resources!"