Performance Intelligence 164 The Science of Mindfulness, Game Faces, and Alter Egos | Dan Abrahams
Dec 3, 2025
This week’s guest, Dan Abrahams, is a sports psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with elite athletes. He discusses the concept of the mind as a time traveler and offers insights into mindfulness versus meditation. Dan explains how mental skills should be practiced in real contexts and introduces his framework of attention, intensity, and intent. He emphasizes the power of a 'game face' and alter egos in high-pressure situations, connecting these ideas to performance psychology's application in both sports and business.
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Brain As A Time-Traveler
- The brain is a time-traveler that naturally wanders across past and future thoughts.
- Mindfulness builds awareness while meditation trains control to steer attention back to what matters.
Differentiate Mindfulness And Meditation
- Use mindfulness to notice where your mind goes and meditation to deliberately steer it to a chosen stimulus.
- Treat mindfulness as awareness and meditation as purposeful control to build both skills.
Practice Mental Skills In Context
- Practice mental skills in your performance environment, not just at home.
- Train attention control and mental routines on the pitch, gym, or court for better in-game transfer.