Jim Loehr, a world-renowned performance psychologist, discusses building mental toughness, discovering purpose, and leaving a legacy. They explore emulating role models, finding true north, and the eight words on your tombstone. They also delve into mental toughness training in sports, flow state, and training challenges during COVID-19. Jim emphasizes the importance of the inner voice as a coach and leading with character. They touch on energy as the most valuable asset and share Jim's mantra for personal growth and improvement.
Developing a positive and empowering inner voice is essential for leading a successful and fulfilling life.
Energy is our most valuable asset, surpassing the importance of time management.
Deep dives
Importance of Inner Voice and Building Character
Our inner voice plays a crucial role in our lives, serving as the master storyteller and controller of our thoughts and actions. It is formed from early childhood experiences and has a significant impact on our self-perception and decision-making. Developing a positive and empowering inner voice is essential for leading a successful and fulfilling life. The inner voice can be trained through practices like mindfulness and journaling to align with our values and guide us towards our desired outcomes. Building character is a lifelong journey that requires intentional energy investments in qualities like kindness, honesty, and integrity. Character muscles, like physical muscles, need consistent development through conscious effort to strengthen and integrate into our lives.
The Power of Energy Investments
Energy is our most valuable asset, surpassing the importance of time management. Time alone does not guarantee success or fulfillment. It is the fusion of time and energy that brings about meaningful results. Merely spending time on activities or relationships without investing focused and intentional energy often falls short. The quality and intensity of our energy directly impact our effectiveness and impact. By aligning our energy investments with what truly matters to us, we can create a purposeful and successful life.
Building Mental Toughness and the Ideal Performance State
Mental toughness is a blend of mental, emotional, and physical qualities that enable individuals to perform at their best. The ideal performance state, also known as the flow state, encompasses attributes like calmness, focus, relaxation, high energy, and optimism. The ability to have fun while performing under pressure is a central aspect of mental toughness. Developing mental toughness requires intentional focus, energy investments, and adherence to practices that facilitate the ideal performance state.
The Journey to Leading with Character
Leading with character involves consciously developing and growing the muscles of character, similar to building physical muscles. Character traits such as kindness, honesty, integrity, humility, and generosity must be cultivated through energy investments. These character assets are not inherited, but rather acquired through intentional effort and practice. Leading with character requires aligning the inner voice with one's values and purpose. Self-reflection, journaling, and scripting the inner voice can aid in this process. By investing in character development, individuals can strive to leave a positive legacy and achieve a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Dr. Jim Loehr is a world-renowned performance psychologist who has worked with top performers in sport, business, medicine, and law enforcement including 17 number one athletes, Fortune 100 executives, FBI Hostage Rescue Teams, and military Special Forces. His science-based energy training system has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Newsweek, Time, and other leading publications.
Lewis and Jim discuss his newest book called Leading with Character. They talk about building mental toughness, discovering purpose, and what it means to leave a legacy.