“You See Flashes of Really Deep Emotion in the Heat of These Competitions”
Jan 3, 2024
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Sports and performance psychologist Alex Auerbach, who works with the Toronto Raptors, discusses managing emotions in high-stakes scenarios and the concept of adaptive perfectionism. Former NFL star Ryan Mundy explores motivation, legacy, imposter syndrome in professional athletics, and navigating mental health challenges after leaving a football career. They also discuss the importance of teamwork and Alkeme Health's efforts to improve mental health in underserved black communities.
Investing in all aspects of well-being is crucial for athletes' high performance.
Athletes face challenges in transitioning to life after retirement, including loss of identity and routine.
Being present in the moment through mindfulness and meditation improves athletes' performance and mental health.
Deep dives
Importance of Taking a Holistic Approach to Performance and Mental Health
The podcast episode explores the idea that athletes should view themselves like elite athletes do, investing in all aspects of well-being, including mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health. It emphasizes the importance of looking at performance through the lens of mental health and highlights the deep connection between emotion and sports. The ability to manage and regulate emotions becomes a hallmark skill of elite athletes, allowing them to direct their thinking, feeling, and physiology to support high performance.
The Evolving Identity and Challenges of Athletes After Retirement
The podcast discusses the challenges athletes face in transitioning to life after retirement from professional sports. It highlights the identity crisis and the loss of routine that athletes experience when leaving their sports careers. It also touches upon the emotional impact of losing the sense of purpose and the need for athletes to redefine themselves and find new routines to maintain mental and physical well-being.
The Importance of Cultivating Present-Moment Awareness
The podcast emphasizes the significance of being present in the moment and how it can benefit athletes' performance and mental health. It explores the role of mindfulness and meditation in training presence and helping athletes direct their attention effectively. The discussion delves into creating routines and transitions to facilitate presence in both work and personal life, particularly in the face of challenges and stress.
Managing Motivation and Emotion in High-Stakes Scenarios
The podcast delves into the importance of managing motivation and emotion, particularly in high-stakes situations. It highlights the difference between trying to control emotions and managing them skillfully. The conversation focuses on developing skills like self-regulation and directing thinking, feeling, and physiology to support high performance. It also underscores the value of understanding that motivation is always present and can be directed towards different aspects of performance.
Creating a Supportive Team Environment for Performance and Mental Health
The podcast explores the role of the team environment in supporting athlete performance and mental health. It emphasizes the significance of teamwork, trust, and psychological safety within the team dynamics. The discussion highlights the importance of relationships, communication, and understanding teammates' emotions for optimal group performance. It also touches on the need for athletes to shape their environments and foster positive team dynamics to excel in their respective sports.
What can we learn about performance and mental health from professional athletes? As we start a new year off, Morra Aarons-Mele revisits her conversations with sports and performance psychologist Alex Auerbach, who works with the Toronto Raptors; and with former NFL star Ryan Mundy, who now runs a mental health start-up called Alkeme Health.