I swim for many reasons but none more important than the constant reminder to 'stay in my own lane' --Brene Brown Brene Brown is not widely known for her swimming. Instead, she is well known for her research on vulnerability. But her recent quote on Facebook about swimming is exactly the type of metaphor that drives the point home … [Read more...]
Three Myths of Mindfulness
Myth #1 : Mindfulness is about having NO thoughts It is time to address the myths of mindfulness in relationship to performance. Mindfulness, by definition, is about having the awareness to observe your thoughts. This means taking the time to become acquainted with the thousands of thoughts you have every day. Mindfulness is the … [Read more...]
The Mindfulness of Sport
Mind-ful-ness "The mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique." In 2010 I was about at my breaking point with Ironman distance triathlon. I had raced well over the … [Read more...]
Emotions, Mindfulness and the Competitive Edge
"The bottom line is you can't be afraid to fail" Jerry Colangelo Emotions in sports can be a BIG game changer. There are times when emotions like anger can produce great focus and determination. Other times, anger can lead to stupid decisions, like the obvious foul in basketball. More and more research is looking at the connections … [Read more...]
Your A-Game: The Big 3 Steps for Building Mindfulness in Sport: Awareness, Acceptance, and Action
Mindfulness. Meditation. These are big buzzwords in the world of sports. It may seem odd that elite athletes engage in meditation to improve performance but modern research shows that mindfulness techniques, including meditation, may be the key to improving athletic performance. Our brain is deeply connected to our physical … [Read more...]
Mindfulness, Mental Strength and Athletes
Mindfulness for athletes really means having awareness and then using the information from your awareness to help you compete. In a recent article for Forbes, Amy Morin posted an article containing a list of 13 things mentally strong people avoid. The list is helpful and has some research to back up the “things”. However, the article … [Read more...]
How To Train A Wild Elephant: Mindfulness Exercises
Athletes of all levels can benefit from mindfulness exercises. It is a skill that can be utilized at any time during training, competition, or recovery. In order to integrate mindfulness into your mental game, daily practice is required. Recently, we came across a great book called, How To Train A Wild Elephant by Jan Chozen Bays. … [Read more...]
Working With Disappointment
A Disappointment Can Be Handled We have all been challenged by an athletic disappointment. Those moments when you wish you could rewind time and do it over: A dropped pass, a missed free throw, a bad start in the 100M, a mental mistake. The list is endless. What do you feel when you are disappointed? An increase in stress, … [Read more...]
Bad Thoughts: Going Against The Stream
Going Against The Stream: "The Buddha described the dharma as 'going against the stream.' As long as one swims with the current of a river, one remains unaware of it. But if one chooses to turn against it, suddenly it is revealed as a powerful, discomforting force. The 'stream' refers to the accumulated habits of conditioning. The … [Read more...]
Star Wars!
Star Wars and Mindfulness Movies are a wonderful forum to learn new things and expand your mental horizons. The Star Wars movies offer some of the greatest mindful principles of all time. One of the best lines from all the movies was: "Luke, Use the Force" -Darth Vader The Star Wars movies were loaded with messages about … [Read more...]
