You’ve already seen athletes spin and twist through the air at the Sochi Winter Olympics. Those feats are nothing compared to the gymnastics that take place in their minds. “You have to train your mind like you train your body,” Olympic decathlete Bruce Jenner once said. This Huffington Post article by Carolyn Gregoire explains how […]
In just one day, the Winter Olympics have given us breath-taking glimpses into the mental game, from snowboarder Jessika Jenson’s reframing to single skater Jeremy Abbott’s defeated body language. Abbott fell on his first jump in the team competition, finished seventh, and put his head between his knees and covered it with his hands. Jenson […]
Everyone strikes out now and then. It doesn’t matter if you play baseball or not. You can fail a test, get cut from the team, or lose money in a business. Striking out isn’t the issue. Your attitude about striking out is the issue. Hall of Fame slugger Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times in […]
Today marks five years since “The Miracle on the Hudson,” in which Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger landed a disabled US Airways airliner in the Hudson River, saving 155 lives. Sullenberger is now retired, but memory of his feat can inspire not only pilots but people anywhere who want to get good at what they do. Asked […]
Four days before the biggest speaking gig of my life, I’m nervous. If the talk goes well, the people in the audience will like me. They will buy my book. They might hire me for more speaking gigs. Stop! What’s wrong with this train of thought? Here’s what’s wrong: It’s all about me. Me, me, […]
If you’re stuck at the same level in your job, your studies or your sport, you need a breakthrough. You may even need a miracle. The good news is that this miracle is available to you. It comes only with the skill that all masters possess, namely, the ability to stay in the present. Every […]
Winners expect to win. That’s more than a cliche. It’s science. For evidence, look at a poison ivy test done by researchers in Japan. Many thanks to former NHL star Ryan Walter for passing along the info. “Researchers blindfolded a group of students and told them their right arms were being rubbed with a poison […]
Much of what you achieve depends on what you believe. For instance, do you believe that your abilities are innate — and are therefore mere luck of the draw — or that they depend on your choices? In this article in Psychology Today, Heidi Grant Halvorson, Ph.D., explores the way fifth-graders look at difficulty. Halvorson […]
You’ve made the team. Or been picked for the play. Or been accepted at a high school or college. Congratulations .. sort of. Getting picked is only the beginning. New York Mets broadcasters made this point during a recent telecast. They quoted Rick Peterson, a noted pitching coach, who told his players, “Your signing bonus […]
Sports is like business in so many ways. In both arenas, you must produce or lose. In both arenas, too many mistakes can doom your effort. And in both arenas, you can use the same kinds of tips to improve. That’s why you can impress your coach, your boss — even a teacher — by […]