Chris Bertish is a world-wide endurance water athlete in the disciplines of big wave surfing, stand up paddling, and wing foiling. He has achieved multiple world records and Guinness World Records, often breaking his own record to set a new one. He has also accomplished several solo open ocean crossings that the world believed to be impossible. Bertish won the Mavericks Big Wave Invitational contest in Half Moon Bay, California in 2010 on the biggest day in recorded history. He also - incredibly - completed a 93-day, 4050 NM, completely solo and unsupported, transatlantic paddle on a paddle craft of his own design (Listen to the Podcast HERE) which he later reoutfitted to wing foil across the Pacific Ocean in another never-done-before feat while raising money for Sea Shepherd, and planting forests for children in South Africa.

Bertish is a one-of-a-kind athlete who is dedicated to the environment, protecting our world's ocean and giving back to his community in South Africa every chance he gets. Here, he writes an exclusive article for Session Magazine about Building a Resilient Mindset to get you through any obstacle, to achieve any goal, even the seemingly impossible.  Let's tune into Chris Bertish...

 

Growing up as the youngest of three boys made me pretty tough. 

Without my understanding it as a kid, this simple placement in life made me determined and taught me to practice resilience. I was always looking up to and trying to keep up with my brothers, Greg and Conn. In my family, we never took the easy road for anything because that’s what everyone else did. We were not like everyone else.

And so, growing up in Cape Town in South Africa, I always consciously chose to challenge myself and walk the path less traveled which - usually - included some hard knocks. But rather than get frustrated or defeated, I learned from early on that learning to withstand challenges is how we can really stand out from the masses. Challenges ultimately reveal what we are made of and give us opportunities to grow, and therefore, excel. It does this while also naturally building mental toughness. This upbringing taught me to make things happen for myself. 

Growing up in South Africa was not easy. In South Africa, nothing ever arrives on a silver platter, so from the get-go, I knew at an early age that I had to work hard - at everything - if I wanted to make a name for myself. 

Today, I hold several World Records in watersports and a few Guinness World Records in multiple sports disciplines. I have stood on podiums around the world as one of the top three athletes across three different sports:  big wave surfing, stand up paddling and wing foiling. And yet, I have never actually been paid as a professional athlete. I arrived at these three World Record achievements while working full-time and scheduling in training before, during and after work. It was incredibly hard, but I did it. For me, successfully reaching these tremendous goals demonstrates how when we want something badly enough, there is always a way to get it.

RESILIENCE is the KEY to SUCCESS

The quality I’ve found to be integral in my success is resilience. Whether the goal is surfing the biggest waves in the world, stand up paddling across the ocean, redefining sports through innovation and performance, or developing a business niche or a new product, to achieve any goal in life, resilience is critical for success. For me, the ability to persevere no matter what the circumstances, endure through all hardship and adopt a “never give up” attitude is a key to unlocking all success. 

So, how do we achieve this resilience?

Mental toughness, a.k.a. resilience is built when we learn to embrace the challenge. Tough times breed grit and resilient people. Research shows that today many people are unwilling to challenge themselves. The current tendency in society is to avoid discomfort, and to settle into the safety of our comfort zone. However, in my experience, it is precisely when we step outside of our comfort zones that we actually begin to grow, build resilience and mental strength.

Resilience can grow when we practice it regularly.  It’s like a muscle. We must exercise it consistently to get stronger. For example, we don’t just wake up one day and become a high level athlete, a successful entrepreneur, or a mentally tough individual. Like any skill we are refining, it requires years of diligence, struggle and discipline. 

Show me any example of individual greatness - in sports, business, or life - and I guarantee you that we shall witness struggle, hardship, and ultimately, perseverance in that person. No one ever becomes great without living and pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone. What we need to realize is that it is in adversity that an individual like you or me can build the resilience we need to overcome obstacles and to triumph over challenges.

We all understand that suffering and hardship are a part of life. What I am suggesting is that instead of resisting those moments of suffering, we can learn to embrace them as learning opportunities, as growth points. The truth is we were all born to endure much more than the convenience-led life which society has crafted for us. For it is in hardship that we can discover who we truly are and the full scope of which we are capable. Don't you want to find that out for yourself?

In recent times, we've never had to experience times of hardship and this lack of discomfort in our lives has made us - in my opinion - weak. However, I promise you that learning to embrace hard times will unlock a version of yourself that can achieve far more than you ever imagined! Take it from this skinny South African kid who took it upon himself to become a big wave champion. Breaking down that door and achieving this goal opened up the perspective to the world that all things are possible for South African youth and surfers. But, I'll tell you... It wasn’t easy.  

When I showed up at Mavericks in Half Moon Bay, California for that championship, I'd been traveling for 48 hours non-stop to get there only to find my board and wetsuit were lost in transit. I had to paddle out for the championship on the biggest day on record at Mavericks on a borrowed board and wearing a borrowed wetsuit with practically no sleep … and I won! This experience and others taught me that when we live each day intentionally - with the courage to try and the mental fortitude to push beyond our comfort zones - we can achieve the seemingly impossible. 

When we’ve practiced and developed mental toughness, what we bring to every situation is the absolute knowing that we are quite capable of achieving success. When we live up to our highest potential, we can fulfill our purpose and create a life that aligns with our highest beliefs.

Our mindset determines our success in life. With regular practice, a resilient mindset defines how we show up in the world, the way in which we respond to challenges, and how we interpret our experiences. Our mindset shapes how we approach life, solve problems, and even interact with others.

PERSPECTIVE & CHOICE

It sounds simplistic, but even something as simple as how we choose to label situations - either positive or negative - can affect how we respond to the moment. We can develop this skill of choosing our perception through practice and the discipline to shift our mindset so that we learn to see every situation as an opportunity to grow. As I’ve said before, it is our personal beliefs and attitudes that directly influence our world. It all boils down to a choice. 

Choice. This is a powerful keynote experience, especially when we are considering the differences between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. A fixed mindset believes that change is impossible. A fixed mindset makes us victims of fate where we believe that everything happens to us, and that life cannot be altered. A growth mindset, on the other hand, views every difficulty or moment of adversity as an opportunity to consciously evolve and grow. This growth mindset requires consistent effort and is ultimately necessary in order to foster the character trait of resilience.

Resilience stems from consciously choosing to do hard things. I believe that the more we consciously avoid the easier path, and instead deliberately put ourselves into challenging and uncomfortable situations willingly, the more proficient we will become at handling those situations. Then, through repetition and experience, our fears about facing challenges begin to diminish. We begin to view obstacles with a keen interest, ultimately seeing them as opportunities to grow. Therefore, our comfort zone expands. 

BUILDING A POSITIVE & PROACTIVE MINDSET

So, how do we build a positive, proactive mindset?  I invite you to try these exercises.

Replace Negative Thoughts: Every time you have a negative thought, replace it with three positive ones. We can consciously ‘take out the trash’ and bring in new, fresh thoughts any time we want.

Awareness: Become aware of any habitual negative thoughts you may have, and when they arise, deliberately remove them and replace them with something constructive. Make it a choice for how you think. Pay attention. How do you talk to yourself?  Choose to make it positive.

Asking Yourself in moments of difficulty or hardship, “How can I learn and grow from this experience to make me better, wiser and stronger?”  A simple shift in perspective will make a huge difference in how you handle challenges going into the future.

REFRAME WHAT HAPPENS

Reframing our unconscious mindset is key. Stoicism teaches us to see the opportunity in every obstacle. One expression from Stoicism I really like is, “What stands in the way becomes the way”.  When we understand that challenges offer us opportunities to grow, then we have the motivation to look within, and evolve our mindset. The right attitude can turn problems into new possibilities! Reframing what happens consciously allows us to see situations from a fresh perspective, revealing solutions where others may only see roadblocks. This is how we win at life.

In a growth mindset, we always find a way forward. As I said from the beginning, I know from experience that if we want something badly enough, we can always find a way to make it happen. Creativity, focus, and collaboration are tools we can use to find novel solutions to existing problems. Reframing our challenges as golden opportunities for growth is mandatory for building a resilient mindset and a solution-oriented attitude.

BUILDING CONFIDENCE = BUILDING RESILIENCE

Confidence and resilience go hand in hand. In order to build these important qualities in life, we must do hard things regularly. We must constantly challenge ourselves and take on tasks that push us way outside of our normal comfort zones. So let’s run that 5K, sign up for that art workshop, or teach ourselves a new language. The more we do this, the more comfortable we become at accepting moments of unchosen discomfort. Over time, we will learn to handle obstacles, novel experiences, or unfamiliar situations with greater ease.

We also build confidence through efficiency. The more we practice anything, whether it be a positive attitude or a new sport, the more skilled and knowledgeable we become overall. As our skills improve, so does our confidence. Competence leads to greater self-assurance, and when we handle challenges successfully, we become more resilient.

POWER OF PERSPECTIVE

Perspective is everything. When we can learn to shift our perspective and view any situation positively, we open ourselves up to endless possibilities. This is why our mindset is so powerful.  It determines how we view and respond to everything around us.

This shift in perspective can be life-changing. For example, instead of seeing a setback as a failure, we can view it as a lesson learned and move forward with that new experience filed under ‘lessons learned’.  Reframing challenges and obstacles as opportunities to grow is one of the most powerful tools to build resilience.

IMPORTANCE OF GRATITUDE & PURPOSE

A grateful mindset feeds the developing positive perspectives and resilience in our lives. When we cultivate gratitude, we learn to focus on the things we are thankful for rather than what we lack in the moment. This mindset shift helps us approach challenges with a sense of appreciation, making it easier for us to navigate tougher situations. By consciously practicing gratitude, we remind ourselves daily of the positive aspects of our lives including things like our health, our relationships, life opportunities, and anything else we might once have taken for granted. Gratitude helps. A grateful mindset supports us even when we are facing adversity.

When we can combine a resilient and gratitude-filled mindset with a higher purpose, that is when we become unstoppable. This is because when our purpose is about only ourselves, there is not enough power to get us through the difficult and dark times. However, when we act consciously and intentionally in service to others, through helping others, or giving back by making the world a better place - and we combine this with being grateful - we become an unstoppable, resilient force for good and create change in the world. I know from experience that there is very little that can slow or stop that momentum and force for good. This becomes our superpower.  

During my 93-day transatlantic stand up paddle expedition, it was gratitude, purpose and a resilient mindset that were the three key elements that kept me alive and helped me complete and survive a journey which the world believed to be impossible! 

CELEBRATING WINS & REWIRING your BRAIN (for CHANGE)

Each time we overcome a challenge, we need to take a moment to celebrate ourselves. It is important to acknowledge our growth and all of our achievements. Celebrating each small victory reinforces the positive cognitive patterns and strengthens our belief in our ability to overcome any challenge. This creates a positive feedback loop that will rewire our brain for success.

A QUICK SUMMARY + ADDITIONAL TIPS for SUCCESS

  1. Exercise & Movement: Regular physical activity - especially in the outdoors - builds resilience.

  2. Good Nutrition: A healthy diet supports mental strength.

  3. Adequate Sleep: Prioritizing sleep is essential for maintaining resilience.

  4. Gratitude: Practice daily gratitude to foster a positive mindset (plus, it feels good!).

  5. Remember to Challenge Yourself: Growth happens outside our comfort zones.

  6. Embrace New Experiences: Embrace new people, skills, and challenges as a way to grow.

  7. Push Yourself in Measured Ways: Take on difficult tasks, like running that extra mile, extending your comfort zone and stretching your limits.

  8. Do What You Want to Avoid: Take action, even when it’s uncomfortable.

  9.  Face Fears: Consciously confront your fears with a growth mindset.

  10.  Start Chasing Bigger Goals!  Why not? Now you know how! Let's use it. Aim high and stretch yourself both physically and mentally.

  11. Stay Consistent: Small, consistent steps lead to big changes. Consistency wins, every time!

  12. Build a Supportive Environment: Surround yourself with positive, encouraging people who believe in your dreams as much as you do.

  13. Self-Confidence: Believe in yourself; it’s key to building resilience.

  14. Replace Negativity: Replace negative thoughts with positive ones, on purpose.

  15. Positive Self-Talk: Eliminate negative self-talk to avoid self-sabotage.

  16. Focus on What You Can Control: Keep letting go of worrying about things outside your control (this takes practice!).

  17. Find Your WHY: A strong purpose outside of yourself will support you through greater and greater challenges.

  18. Take Action, Every Day: It’s all about mindset and taking proactive steps—no excuses.

CONCLUSION

Building resilience is a choice. It takes effort and deliberate, ongoing practice. Developing this characteristic is about deciding to face your challenges, embrace any discomfort, and choosing to grow through difficulty. Resilience training takes steady effort, much patience, daily gratitude and a willingness to reframe obstacles as growth opportunities. With the right mindset, any challenge can be turned into a stepping stone for personal growth. So, take that first step today.

Let’s step outside our comfort zones, do hard things, and begin to build a resilient mindset which will carry us through life’s challenges, not only in sports or business, but in all areas of our lives. 

I know that building resilience is the key to moving through adversity in life. Resilience is also a skill and a personal attribute that is highly respected and sought after in a world which otherwise always seems to be looking for the easy, comfortable, quick fix or short cut around anything. 

A resilient individual with a strong, positive mental attitude and a growth-oriented mindset is a highly sought after individual, someone who is greatly valued, and welcomed in all areas of business, sports and life.  I wish you well on your journey. 

– Chris Bertish