Tag: performance
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What’s Important Now? A gamer’s mindset.
My partner recently attended a writer’s conference, where I had the pleasure of attending a reception of many esteemed writers. I spoke briefly with a published author about the long process of submitting manuscripts to agents and publishers. Anyone familiar with that world knows how discouraging it can be. Writers send out query after query…
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Breaking Through: How Athletes Can Conquer the Fear of Failure
Every athlete, regardless of experience, knows the weight of failure. It can come in many forms: a missed shot in a key game, a disqualification at a meet, or not achieving a personal best. This fear often looms large, but it doesn’t have to be a barrier. Instead, what if we could transform that fear…
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Optimism and Mental Toughness: Give pain a purpose.
The Role of Optimism in Mental Toughness Mental toughness is often romanticized in sport. We picture the athlete who digs deep in the final moments, pushes through the pain of training, or comes back from injury stronger than before. But what actually makes that possible? At its core, mental toughness is the ability to initiate…
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Get the Information, Forgive Yourself, and Play On: Turning Mistakes into Fuel for Performance
Mistakes are not the enemy of athletic performance. They are the raw material of progress. If you want to grow in your sport, you must face the reality that mistakes are not only inevitable, they are essential. They tell you what needs work, they direct your training focus, and they prepare you for future adversity.…
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How to Build a Pre-Performance Routine That Works!
You’ve probably seen it before: the basketball player who spins the ball in their hands the same way before each free throw. Michael Phelps slapping his back across his chest while getting ready to race. The lifter who takes the same number of breaths before every attempt. To the outside world, it might look like…
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At the Top, Mental Skills Make the Difference
I often begin working with a new team by asking the group ‘How much of your success as an athlete depends on your physical skills versus your mental skills?’ Depending on the age of the groups, I will receive answers anywhere from 50:50, 70:30, 30:70, and so on. A general trend that I have noticed…
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Mindset: The Hidden Tool to Better Performance
How do you think about yourself when performing? Whether that be on the athletic field, in the operating room, giving a presentation in front of your superiors, or right before taking an important exam. What are you thinking about? Are you excited for the opportunity to perform your best and show your skills and knowledge?…
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The Winning Edge: Why Coaches Should Prioritize Athetes’ Mental Performance
As a coach, your primary goal is to lead your team to success. While physical training plays a significant role, you understand that success in sports is not solely determined by strength and agility. The mental aspect is equally important, if not more so. Here are the top 10 reasons why coaches should utilize mental…
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Enhanced Mental Performance: Top 10 Reasons to Work With a Mental Performance Coach.
While the physical aspect of sports often takes the spotlight, what often goes unnoticed is the immense influence of the mind on performance. The best athletes know this and work to train their mind to be a powerful weapon to be wielded. Mental skills are incredibly important to a successful career but can be hard…
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Fueling the Fire: How Psychological Need Satisfaction Drives Intrinsic Motivation
Self-Determination Theory (SDT) explores athletes’ intrinsic motivation by focusing on autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Coaches can support this by involving athletes in training decisions, setting personalized goals, providing constructive feedback, promoting positive team dynamics, allowing choice in competition prep, fostering leadership, and adapting to individual differences. SDT empowers athletes to excel with passion and resilience.