--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the first lessons one learns is…" description: "\"One of the first lessons one learns is that the mind is a powerful factor in everything you do, including those exercises that seem to require a maximu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/joe-hyams-30049_basketball_one-of-the-first-lessons-one-learns-is-t_3218562.jpg" --- # One of the first lessons one learns is that the mind is a… ![“One of the first lessons one learns is that the mind is a powerful factor in everything you do, including those exercises that seem to require a maximum of physical strength.” quote by Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/joe-hyams-30049_basketball_one-of-the-first-lessons-one-learns-is-t_3218562.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/joe-hyams-30049_basketball_one-of-the-first-lessons-one-learns-is-t_3218562.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/joe-hyams-30049_basketball_one-of-the-first-lessons-one-learns-is-t_3218562.jpg) > “One of the first lessons one learns is that the mind is a powerful factor in everything you do, including those exercises that seem to require a maximum of physical strength.” [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mental strength influences performance in all activities, even those that seem purely physical. **In simple terms:** Your mind shapes how well you do physically. Key Takeaway Train your mind as you train your body. Themes mind‑body connection performance psychology Mood motivational pragmatic Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - sports - exercise routines - rehabilitation - skill learning Key Concepts self‑efficacy focus mental resilience Questions to Reflect On - How does mental focus change your workout? - What mental habits boost physical performance? A Different Perspective Physical limits still exist; mental training can't replace proper technique. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Factors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/factors/) [Famous basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/famous-basketball/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Including](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/including/) [Including Exercises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/including-exercises-6042207/) [Learns Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learns-mind-6042206/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Maximum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maximum/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-powerful/) [Physical strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-strength/) [Powerful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerful/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) ## Related quotes > [Your mind is the most powerful weapon you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-mind-is-the-most-powerful-weapon-you-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The mind is such a powerful thing, and when you learn how to control that it really turns a lot of things around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-marchand/the-mind-is-such-a-powerful-thing-and-when-you-learn-how-to-control/) [Brad Marchand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-marchand/) > [“The sub-conscious mind is so powerful in such a way that even if you empty your mind of all its components, there will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-sub-conscious-mind-is-so-powerful-in-such-a-way-that-even-if-you/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [Strength of the mind is more powerful than strength of the muscles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-monnar/strength-of-the-mind-is-more-powerful-than-strength-of-the-muscles/) [Ana Monnar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-monnar/) > [The mind is a powerful thing and most people don't use it properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcgwire/the-mind-is-a-powerful-thing-and-most-people-don-t-use-it-properly/) [Mark McGwire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcgwire/) > [“The mind is the most powerful force in the universe. It is that which created every great empire in all of history. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-aigner/the-mind-is-the-most-powerful-force-in-the-universe-it-is-that-which/) [Mitch Aigner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-aigner/) > [Your mind is a powerful thing. When you fill it with positive thoughts, your life will start to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-mind-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-fill-it-with-positive-thoughts/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The human mind is a powerful thing in many ways, but in others it's endlessly fragile—it takes only a single moment of pure terror…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/the-human-mind-is-a-powerful-thing-in-many-ways-but-in-others-it-s/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [The mind is a powerful thing, when filled with positive thoughts only great things can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/the-mind-is-a-powerful-thing-when-filled-with-positive-thoughts-only/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [“Your mind is powerful, so powerful it can call a person from across the state.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flory-garcia/your-mind-is-powerful-so-powerful-it-can-call-a-person-from-across/) [Flory Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flory-garcia/) > [The future is to heal back to the mind again. Recognizing that the mind is all powerful - it controls every cell to every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lipton/the-future-is-to-heal-back-to-the-mind-again-recognizing-that-the/) [Bruce Lipton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lipton/) > [The mind is very powerful. Therefore, it requires firm guidance. A powerful jet plane needs a good pilot; the pilot of your mind should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thubten-yeshe/the-mind-is-very-powerful-therefore-it-requires-firm-guidance-a/) [Thubten Yeshe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thubten-yeshe/) > [Your mind is a very powerful thing. It can be your best friend or your worst enemy, but it's your choice to make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/your-mind-is-a-very-powerful-thing-it-can-be-your-best-friend-or-your/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [“Your mind is a very powerful force. If you learn to tame it, you can achieve anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-apetsi/your-mind-is-a-very-powerful-force-if-you-learn-to-tame-it-you-can/) [Emmanuel Apetsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-apetsi/) > [I'm always trying to evolve and I'm always trying to learn new things. The mind is the most powerful weapon you have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-jury/i-m-always-trying-to-evolve-and-i-m-always-trying-to-learn-new-things/) [Myles Jury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-jury/) ## More by Joe Hyams > [“Always remember: in life as well as on the mat an unfocused or ‘loose’ mind wastes energy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/always-remember-in-life-as-well-as-on-the-mat-an-unfocused-or-loose/) [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) > [Only through practice and more practice, until you can do something without conscious effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/only-through-practice-and-more-practice-until-you-can-do-something/) [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) > [Only by constantly exposing myself to someone better than I have I been able to improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/only-by-constantly-exposing-myself-to-someone-better-than-i-have-i/) [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) > [“The angry man will defeat himself in battle as well as in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/the-angry-man-will-defeat-himself-in-battle-as-well-as-in-life/) [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) > [When you lose your temper, you lose yourself—on the mat as well as in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/when-you-lose-your-temper-you-lose-yourself-on-the-mat-as-well-as-in/) [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) > [ A dojo \[pracice hall\] is a miniature cosmos where we make contact with ourselves - our fears, anxieties, reactions, and habits. It is an… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/a-dojo-pracice-hall-is-a-miniature-cosmos-where-we-make-contact-with/) [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) > [What stands in the way of effortless effort is caring, or a conscious attempt to do well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/what-stands-in-the-way-of-effortless-effort-is-caring-or-a-conscious/) [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) > [“And for the unpeaceful, how can there be happiness?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/and-for-the-unpeaceful-how-can-there-be-happiness/) [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) > [Those who are patient in the trivial things in life and control themselves will one day have the same mastery in great and important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/those-who-are-patient-in-the-trivial-things-in-life-and-control/) [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) > [When a problem arises, don't fight with it or try to deny it. Accept and acknowledge it. Be patient in seeking a solution or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/when-a-problem-arises-don-t-fight-with-it-or-try-to-deny-it-accept/) [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) > [Only after several years of training did I come to realize that the deepest purpose of the martial arts is to serve as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/only-after-several-years-of-training-did-i-come-to-realize-that-the/) [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) > [“When an untoward event occurs in your life, react to it without haste or passion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/when-an-untoward-event-occurs-in-your-life-react-to-it-without-haste/) [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) > [To generate great power you must first totally relax and gather your strength, and then concentrate your mind and all your strength on hitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/to-generate-great-power-you-must-first-totally-relax-and-gather-your/) [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) > [“The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/the-gentle-and-yielding-is-the-disciple-of-life/) [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) > [When one eye is fixed upon your destination, there is only one eye left with which to find the Way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/when-one-eye-is-fixed-upon-your-destination-there-is-only-one-eye/) [Joe Hyams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) [Explore all 17 Joe Hyams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the first lessons one learns is that the mind is a powerful factor in everything you do, including those exercises that seem to require a maximum of physical strength.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joe Hyams" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/one-of-the-first-lessons-one-learns-is-that-the-mind-is-a-powerful/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/one-of-the-first-lessons-one-learns-is-that-the-mind-is-a-powerful/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/joe-hyams-30049_basketball_one-of-the-first-lessons-one-learns-is-t_3218562.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/joe-hyams-30049_basketball_one-of-the-first-lessons-one-learns-is-t_3218562.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/joe-hyams-30049_basketball_one-of-the-first-lessons-one-learns-is-t_3218562.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One of the first lessons one learns is that the mind is a powerful factor in everything you do, including…” — Joe Hyams", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Joe Hyams", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-hyams/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One of the first lessons one...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/one-of-the-first-lessons-one-learns-is-that-the-mind-is-a-powerful/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-hyams/one-of-the-first-lessons-one-learns-is-that-the-mind-is-a-powerful/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```