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Neurosweat
Releasing self-judgment to perform better
How do we create a more harmonious relationship between Self 1 and Self 2? The first step is to practice non-judgment, particularly as directed to yourself. A judgmental thought is one that attaches a valence, such as positive or negative, to an event. The act of committing this thought takes away from the experience itself. It prevents us from experiencing the event as it is. How does that relate to Self 1 and Self 2? Well, a single judgmental thought can open Pandora's box. It’s the gateway for an entire sequence of thoughts, which quickly pulls us out of the present moment and our chance of pure, uninhibited performance. Let’s break down what happens when a judgmental thought enters your mind.
Introducing Self 1 and Self 2
In an effort to drop into peak performance more frequently, it’s helpful to have a broad understanding of what’s going on in the mind when we’re not in flow.
In his book, The Inner Game of Tennis, Timothy Gallwey introduces the reader to Self 1 and Self 2. Self 1 can be thought of as the ego-mind. It’s always thinking, always commenting, and incredibly judgmental. Self 2 is the body. It includes the unconscious mind and the nervous system. Self 1 is the “teller” and Self 2 is the “doer”. But, Self 2 is not subservient. It is actually very wise; it just doesn’t have a chance to do its thing because, well, Self 1 nags . . . a lot.
Finding center with mental anchors
We’ve all been caught up in life’s chaos (heck, this probably happens on the daily), so we intimately know how this feels. Our mind is scattered, all of our mental tabs are open, and we’re buzzing at an unsustainable speed. Although we may feel like we’re spinning out of control, we actually have quite a bit of agency over each moment. Instead of continuously getting carried away by the current of life and all its demands, we have ample opportunity to come back to center - that place of permanent inner stillness that allows us to reconnect to our purpose, clarify our path, and execute efficient and effective action steps. Mental anchors are short practices that quiet the mind, help us regain control, and allow us to focus on what’s important now.
How to rewire your brain to focus on the good
Fact: We pay more attention to negative elements in our environment than positive ones. There’s a good reason for this. The negativity bias evolved to help us survive in harsh conditions. Unfortunately, in today’s world, our overemphasis and heightened focus on negative elements is detrimental to our health. The good news is we can take advantage of neuroplasticity and rewire our brain.
Mental agility: A key ingredient for mental toughness
Change is tough. When you have a concrete plan, or even a rough idea of how something should unfold, you may perceive obstacles as a threat - and buckle under the pressure.
One characteristic of a mentally tough person is their ability to recognize challenges as neutral, make the necessary adjustments in a timely manner, and get back in the game. Instead of letting the stress consume them, they demonstrate resilience - leaning in to the change, making shifts, and moving on.
So, how do you do that?