Klessinger: Retrain your mind using the question, ‘What if?’

Editor’s Note: This article appeared in WIN’s Volume 31 Issue 9, which was published on June 5, 2025. Looking for mindset and sport-specific coaching articles? Digital subscribers can access every WIN issue published dating back to October of 2011 in our digital archive. Click here to view WIN’s subscription options (Print/Digital/Combo).

Photo: John Stefanowicz (right) represented Team USA at the 2020 Olympics despite never qualifying for the PA State tournament in high school. Photo by Justin Hoch.

By John Klessinger

What if you had no limitations? What if you dropped everything holding you back for one minute, one hour or one day? Let your imagination drift a bit. No restraints. Don’t buy into the negative dialogue that you are not strong or good enough. For just a moment, consider what is possible if you drop the story playing in your mind and replace it with curiosity about the question — “What if?”

What if you worked as hard as possible without fear of discomfort? What if you gave a little more of yourself to your dreams? What if you couldn’t fail? What would you accomplish?

“What if” is a powerful question if you allow the possibilities to come in without interference of conditioning. Conditioning? Yes, all of the things people said weren’t possible. You aren’t smart enough, experienced enough, or disciplined enough. Conditioning is a record playing on a loop. The loop includes past failures, mistakes and regrets. It includes everyone who ever said your dreams are too big and unrealistic. They are not your thoughts. They are your parents, teachers, coaches, the media or close friends.

Your brain is like a computer. It records data and then uses it to manage your life. If a challenge arises, it goes into its memory banks and compares it to the current situation. “This is like that match against Joe. You lost that match. You should have won. You took a bad shot.” It does all of this without your conscious awareness. You may feel fear or hesitation without even knowing why. It is fascinating. Much of our actions and responses to situations are on autopilot.

Studies in cognitive neuroscience estimate that 95 percent of our daily decisions, actions and thoughts are directed by the subconscious mind, meaning they occur beyond our awareness. It is kind of scary to believe this is true. It makes it seem that we have little control over our lives.

It is not a bad thing that the subconscious does so many things for us. It beats our heart, breathes, digests, and performs many other functions. Your subconscious is what allows you to drive, have a conversation, drink coffee, and follow a GPS all at the same time. Could you imagine having to think about all of that at one time? You couldn’t.

However, the subconscious mind limits us because it operates mostly on previously learned behavior and patterns. Hence, “conditioning” is a large aspect of who we are. It includes our attitudes and beliefs about life and what is possible. In addition, conditioning includes our mental toughness and ability to persevere. Those characteristics were created and modeled when we were small children. Most likely from a parent or caregiver. If they were tough, most likely you are as well. If they shied away from challenges and were afraid to take risks, it is a good chance you do as well.

That’s the bad news. Or, maybe even a sense of relief. It’s not your fault. Most of it depends on your communication between the ages of three and seven. If your parents were positive and optimistic, most likely so are you. And, if they felt like victims of life and spent a lot of time complaining, your habits may be the same.

Let’s return to the original question — “What if?” What if you decided to change how you think, act or respond to challenges? Can you change it? Of course you can. It requires some self-awareness to catch the old program playing its tune and consciously deciding to do something different.

Fortunately, our brains can rewire themselves. It is called neuroplasticity. It is possible for all of us to change our unresourceful habits. Furthermore, nothing is permanent. Things are always in motion and changing. Our bodies, as well as our thoughts and emotions, are always changing. English philosopher John Locke said, “Things of this world are in so constant a flux, that nothing remains long in the same state.”

Let “what if” be your guide. Dream and imagine what your future could be like. Why are Jax Forrest, Marcus Blaze, PJ Duke or Bo Bassett beating NCAA champions? Because they have not placed limits on themselves. They expect to compete with wrestlers five to ten years older. The “what if” sparked their imagination and set in motion a new level of belief for them that has trickled down to others. “If they can, so can I.”

It is no different than Roger Bannister. Bannister was the first person to ever run under a four-minute mile. People thought it was impossible. Furthermore, people thought it would put a runner’s life at risk putting their body under such intense pressure. In 1954, he ran a 3:59.4. Thirty-six other runners broke four-minute miles within a year. “What if?”

Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first people to climb Mt. Everest in 1953, nearly 7,000 have since. Despite over 300 deaths and tremendous physical, emotional, and financial challenges, about 800 people attempt the monumental feat each year.

Consider Dick and Rick Hoyt. The father and son team completed over 1,100 races, including 72 marathons, six Ironman triathlons, and a 3,735-mile bike and run across the United States. Father Dick pulled his son, Rick, born with cerebral palsy leaving him with quadriplegia, in a small inflatable boat for 2.4 miles, then towed him on a bike for 112 miles, and pushed him in a wheelchair for 26.2 miles.

“Team Hoyt’s” mantra is “Yes You Can.” Dick was an out-of-shape smoker in his late 30s when Rick asked him to run a five-mile fundraiser race in 1977 to benefit a paralyzed lacrosse player. The father-son team finished second to last in that race. After the race, Rick told Dick from a computer-typed voice recorder, “Dad, when I’m running, it feels like I’m not handicapped.”

Team Hoyt carried the torch in the 1996 Olympics and are members of the Ironman Hall of Fame. Dick and Rick competed in endurance events together for nearly 40 years. What if?

Bruce Baumgartner never won a state title. He is one of the United States’ greatest wrestlers, winning four Olympic medals and nine World Championship medals, as well as an NCAA title in 1982.

Johnny Stefanowicz was a 2020 Greco-Roman Olympian and two-time Pan Am champ. In high school, he never made it to the Pennsylvania State tournament.

The human spirit is remarkable when we allow ourselves freedom from self-imposed limits. We are far more capable than we think. It is proven again and again by normal people doing things most never thought possible. But they did. They imagined, dreamed and defied odds. What if…

(John Klessinger is a teacher and wrestling coach at South River High School in Maryland. You can follow him on Instagram @coachkless and like his Facebook page “Coach Kless”.)