Transformative Mindset Tips for Pros

Focus

In chess, staying focused is essential. Every move needs your full attention, as even a small distraction can lead to mistakes or missed chances. Keeping your focus sharp helps you think clearly, make better decisions, and anticipate your opponent’s moves. Without strong focus, playing chess becomes much harder and mistakes are more likely to occur.
Stoics teach us to focus on we can control: moves, time management, preparation before the game, effort we put in the game, attitude and psychological state. By consistently focusing on these aspects, you can let go of worrying about the things you can’t control—like your opponent’s strength or luck—and instead channel your energy toward mastering the elements you can influence

Present moment

Staying present in chess means keeping your attention fully on the game at hand, without letting your mind wander to past mistakes or future moves. By focusing on the current position and your immediate options, you can make better decisions and respond more effectively to your opponent.
It is a hard thing to do. Quite often when I play classical chess and participate in tournaments I find myself getting bored and thinking about other things. Music plays in my head, various thoughts pop up. Staying in the present moment is crucial in time scrambles, especially. You simply can't allow your mind to be preoccupied with anything else, everything is decided now! Train your mind, cultivate this habit to think clearly in the present moment without being distracted too much.

Growth Mindset

View challenges and setbacks as opportunities for improvement rather than as failures. Remember that you are always learning. The goal is continuous improvement, and each game teaches us something. A loss should serve as a motivation to learn more.
From my experience, winning games is undoubtedly satisfying, but it’s often the losses that offer the most valuable lessons. While victories can be pleasant, they rarely push us to grow as much as defeats do. If we adopt a growth mindset, we should view each loss as a chance to learn and improve. After a tough game, instead of focusing on disappointment, I remind myself: "Thank you for another opportunity to learn more about myself."

Detachment from the Outcome

Focusing on the quality of your play rather than being overly concerned with winning or losing. This mindset helps you avoid taking results personally and prevents them from affecting your self-esteem or emotional state. Instead of seeing a loss as a reflection of your worth, view it as a natural part of the learning process.
I remember, when I reached 2400 FIDE I was so happy. And then in the next event I lost to a few 2200 players and some 2400. I was so disappointed, and kept saying no! I am not playing in the strength of my rating. My rating is a bloody fake, I am not worth it, how did I even reach it) Subsequent competitons showed to me that even 1700 could withstand my pressure and outplay me. These things happen from time to time. The lesson I am trying to highlight is that - don't attach your strength to the results you are getting. You should only care about your improvement journey and how better you are, compared to yesterday.

Action 100 %

Stoicism teaches us to dedicate ourselves to doing the best we can with our preparation, skills, and strategies. After the game, regardless of the result, you shouldn't feel disappointed if you did your best. The result is something beyond your control.
I remember I played in Dubai Police Open in 2024. I lost 10 rating points and didn't get the last norm I needed to become an IM. I was a bit angry that the norm was so close and I ruined everything. Then I asked myself: " Did I perform at my best? I didn't know if it was my best, but I knew that I gave
100% of my energy.
Having clarified that I calmed down. I was happy with the quality of my games, there was some unluck in one game or another. But that's not in my control ,so... We keep going!!

Reflection

And my favourite part - reflection ! It is the ability to analyse what happened in the game and learn from mistakes. Explore your thought process, refine it. Understand the underlying causes of your mistakes , and treat it. n today’s world, there's a common tendency to address problems only at a surface level. For example, we often take medicine to treat symptoms of a disease. While this may alleviate the immediate discomfort, it doesn't necessarily address the underlying cause of the illness. Consequently, the root issue remains unresolved, and over time, the person may experience similar problems again. True resolution requires looking beyond the symptoms to understand and address the deeper causes, ensuring more lasting and effective solutions.
The same applied to chess, don't simply look at your moves, study your thought process!

In chess, as in life, the right mindset is essential for growth and success. Adopting a mindset that values resilience, continuous learning, and self-improvement can profoundly impact your performance. Your mindset shapes not only how you approach each game but also how you evolve as a player. Keep these tips in mind and watch how your circumstances and reality begin to shift.

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