Christen Press: How to Get Your Bliss Back (Best Of)
Jan 1, 2025
auto_awesome
Christen Press, a two-time World Cup Champion and co-founder of re—inc, shares powerful insights on balancing personal joy with competitive pressure. She reflects on a poignant moment with Abby, her USWNT roommate, and discusses how to support loved ones without attaching their worth to achievements. The conversation dives into her journey advocating for pay equity in women's sports and the importance of maintaining relationships with those we've lost. Christen emphasizes self-care, activism, and finding joy beyond accolades in both sports and life.
Christen Press highlights the transformative power of meditation in sports, helping her detach self-worth from performance and find joy.
She emphasizes the importance of establishing boundaries in personal relationships to ensure safety and foster healthier connections.
Christen advocates for a mindset shift in pursuing greatness, focusing on personal joy and growth rather than just achievement.
Deep dives
National Sales Event Highlights
The local Toyota dealer is currently hosting a national sales event, presenting an opportunity to acquire a reliable new SUV such as the RAV4, designed for diverse terrains and equipped with all-wheel drive for enhanced performance. The RAV4 boasts ample space for passengers and cargo, alongside cutting-edge technology features like wireless charging to keep everyone connected during travels. Alternatively, the stylish Highlander offers comfort with three rows of seating for up to eight passengers, and features like a panoramic moonroof for a better view of the outdoors. Both the RAV4 and Highlander are available in hybrid models, emphasizing efficient driving and gas savings, making now an ideal time to visit your local dealer.
Anticipating a Special Trip
The hosts express excitement over an upcoming trip to Park City, where they will stay together with the team involved in producing Andrew Gibson's documentary, 'Come See Me in the Good Light,' which is set to debut at Sundance. They emphasize the importance of this gathering, considering it a cozy and inclusive experience, particularly highlighting the predominantly lesbian group sharing the space. This choice of accommodation through Airbnb is praised for offering extra rooms and a full kitchen, enhancing the group experience together. The hosts encourage others planning winter getaways to consider Airbnb for a unique and enjoyable stay.
Kristen Press's Journey and Meditation
Kristen Press recounts her experience of discovering meditation amidst her competitive career in soccer, particularly during her college years when she felt immense pressure and misery. After observing a teammate meditating, she found the practice beneficial and decided to explore it further, realizing that her self-worth was often tied to her performance. Kristen describes how this journey of meditation helped her let go of the overwhelming expectations and pressure she faced, allowing her to perform better on the field. She emphasizes that stepping back from the intense race for national team selection ultimately led to her calling up to represent the national team.
Pursuit of Greatness and Its Impact
Kristen emphasizes the nuanced understanding that the pursuit of greatness should not come at the cost of one's well-being, fostering a balance between ambition and acceptance. She articulates how the common narrative in sports links suffering with achievement, often leading to burnout and emptiness after winning. Instead, she advocates for a path where the focus is on personal joy and growth, as she learns to train her mindset to seek flow states where she can perform at her best while deriving happiness from the sport. Kristen's reflections on her past experiences reveal her journey toward redefining success and fostering a healthier relationship with competitive sports.
Navigating Personal Relationships and Boundaries
Kristen shares insights on the emotional complexities of personal relationships, especially the importance of establishing boundaries for safety and mental well-being. She recounts a significant relationship where she learned to set limits, emphasizing that boundaries do not equate to a lack of love but rather ensure healthier interactions. This understanding was catalyzed by her experience with her mother's upbringing and her struggle with guilt, effectively transforming her approach to her relationships. The conversation highlights how knowing oneself and establishing clear boundaries can facilitate deeper connections while allowing for personal safety and self-respect.
1. The moment Abby – as Christen’s USWNT roommate – walked into their hotel room and knew Christen was very different than any soccer player she’d ever known.
2. The boundary that helps Christen love her people while protecting herself.
3. Christen’s take on death and how to keep the people we’ve lost alive in our lives.
4. How to show our people (including our little athletes) that we love them for who they are, not what they achieve.
5. The day Christen knew she was ready to fight for – and win – pay equity for the US Women’s National Team.
About Christen:
Christen Press is a two-time World Cup Champion and Olympian, as well as a leading forward at Los Angeles Angel City FC. An entrepreneur and advocate for inclusivity, Christen, along with US Women’s National teammates – Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath, and Meghan Klingenberg – launched their company re—inc, a purpose-driven, global lifestyle brand. Christen was one of the key players leading the charge for the “Equal Play, Equal Pay” campaign to highlight the pay discrepancy between the women’s and men’s national teams, which led to the new CBA agreement – and to her role as Player Representative for the US Women's National Team Players Association.