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Neurosweat
Learning how to ride the wave - in both surfing and parenting
It is such a joy and a challenge having a kid in sports. We get to see them develop friendships, improve their skills, and celebrate their victories. But sometimes, we have to deal with parents who never learned sportsmanship. We also have to see our kids fail, which can be painful, even though we know it’s an important part of their growth.
Mindset tips from the Olympics
Let’s honor the 16 days we spent in awe of the world’s greatest athletes by taking a page from their playbook. Here are 8 Olympian-approved ways to fortify your mental game and elevate your performance - in whatever arena you perform.
Positive thinking isn’t always better
Negative thinking gets a lot of nasty looks - and for good reason. It has a very real effect on one’s psychology and can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. But, what about positive thinking? Is it all that it’s cracked up to be?
Now, don’t get me wrong. In a head to head battle, positive thinking will beat negative thinking almost every time. The psychological and physical health research supporting positive thinking is pretty convincing.
But, there’s also a downside to positive thinking that’s not always discussed and the key is in the second word: thinking. This downside is most detrimental when we’re initiating an action or trying to perform in intense pressure situations.
Dealing with imposter phenomenon
Imposter phenomenon is a psychological construct in which we doubt our competency or do not feel deserving of our accomplishments . . . [It] can be debilitating and is certainly one way in which people may get in their own way. It can lead to burnout, anxiety, or depression - and is also linked to a decrease in risk-taking behavior, which isn’t always a good thing in business or athletics . . . Luckily, there are several proven strategies for overcoming imposter phenomenon.
Don’t just stand there, bust a move: The art of waiting
Waiting is inherent to living. Unfortunately, in this age of instant gratification, our patience is often tested. If you’re waiting anxiously and complaining about the process, then you’re missing out on the richness of those in-between moments. Plus, waiting fortifies the mind - and isn’t that partly why we’re here? To gain some mental strength and grow as humans? Let’s explore the benefit of waiting on mental strength and the art of waiting well.
Align + Allow: An intention for 2019
What if 2019 can be an experiment in flowing more and forcing less? And what if the practice of flow could allow you to access deeper fulfillment, and maybe even open you up to more enriching opportunities?
In this new year, focus on the exhale, surrender more fully, and give yourself permission to align with that which feels easy.
Know pain: understanding the neural underpinnings of pain in endurance sports
Your mindset can affect how you perceive pain. For a long time, psychologists theorized that mental techniques such as visualization, positive self-talk, or cognitive self-regulation, could alter one’s experience of pain. Recently, neuroscientists discovered neural pathways that may help explain how shifts in mindset contribute to our experience of pain.
Hey, Warrior. What are you fighting for?
In the past week, we’ve seen warriors in the form of Emma Gonzalez and her classmates - survivors of yet another school shooting - speaking out about gun control. We’ve seen Olympians competing for a medal they’ve trained their entire careers for. And if you’ve looked in the mirror recently, you’ve seen a warrior there too.