A New Way of Being

Everyone knows the mainstream narrative around elite athletes – that they are superhumans capable of achieving the truly incredible. True in many ways – but perhaps not the whole story. What if - in many cases - the drive required to become the best in the world comes from a place of internal disquiet? Dr Amy Izycky is a clinical psychologist and psychodynamic psychotherapist with a major interest in sport and author of the paradigm shifting book Skewed To The Right – Sport, Mental Health and Vulnerability. This episode starts with a premise - that we all need a loving gaze from our parents or caregivers as babies and children. Without it we may internalise a belief that there is 'something missing' - which leads us on a search to fill that void by finding it in the outside world - an unsustainable pursuit. That may be in a relationship, a car, a promotion... or an Olympic gold medal. In this epiosde we also talk about changing the narrative around mental health from 'It's okay not to be okay' - true of course - to 'It's okay to do the work to be ok'***Follow me:on instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/on twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from three years and more than 150 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.comAnd please do share this episode with anyone who may benefit, and rate and review wherever you get your podcasts***Finally a shoutout to my sponsors whose support enables me to put out weekly episodesWhether you are anxious, stressed, struggling to focus or sleep – there’s something for everyone in Pure Sport CBD's brilliant range of oils, capsules, balms and nootropics. Puresport CBD products are triple lab tested – and trusted by many of the world’s top athletes for a reason.You can get 20% off all their products using the code LIFE20 at checkout - just head to puresportcbd.comHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imposter sydrome is where we feel like a fraud and don't deserve the success that comes our way. It is often accompanied by uncomfortable feelings like anxiety and thoughts like "I'm not good enough" or "I don't deserve to be here". The key insight from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is that uncomfortable thoughts and feelings are normal and to be expected. It is our desire to get rid of them, or to not recognise them for what they are - simply thoughts and feelings that come and go irrespective of their content - that is the problem. To help explain more is the world's best-selling ACT teacher Dr Russ Harris - author of The Confidence Gap and The Happiness Gap. The more we can make space for all thoughts and feelings aand recognise that we are aware of them and don't have to battle them, suppress them or buy into their storylines - the more freedom we have to act in accordance with out values.***Follow me:Book: https://www.simonmundie.com/bookWebsite: simonmundie.comYouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/Substack Newsletter: https://simonmundie.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Barnes is a former Liverpool, Watford and England footballer who would like people to think hard about discrimination and its origins.He has a new book out - The Uncomfortable Truth about Racism - which explores the human propensity for creating illusory hierarchies in our minds and putting people on pedastals. John's point is - whatever our background - deep down we are all the same. While we are all prone to mental conditioning, we can move beyond it.***Follow me:on instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/on twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from three years and more than 150 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com***Thanks to the sponsors of this episode Pure Sport CBD - whose support enables me to put out weekly episodes.Whether you are anxious, stressed, struggling to focus or sleep – there’s something for everyone in their brilliant range of oils, capsules, balms and nootropics. You can get £10 off your first order using the code Life10 at checkout and puresportcbd.comHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you believe you will be happy and fulfilled at some point in the future - perhaps when you get the right job, relationship or house?Or maybe you will find lasting fulfilment when you do something really special - like win a World Cup...Jonny Wilkinson reached the pinnacle of his sport in 2003 aged 24, when he kicked England to World Cup glory. But, rather than being left with a sense of lasting peace and fulfilment by fulfilling his ultimate goal, Wilkinson's body and mind soon began to suffer. It eventually led him to question whether inner peace could be found in objects and activities in the outside world.**The full conversation with Jonny Wilkinson is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/obsession-jonny-wilkinson/id1564063336?i=1000519823758Follow me:on instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/on twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from three years and more than 150 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com**And a big shoutout to my sponsors whose support enables me to put out weekly episodes.Whether you are anxious, stressed, struggling to focus or sleep – there’s something for everyone in Puresport CBD's brilliant range of oils, capsules, balms and nootropics.Check out their amazing products at puresportcbd.com and get 20% off by using the code Life20 at checkout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Professor BJ Fogg is one of the world's top experts when it comes to behaviour change. He has spent 20 years researching and teaching insights about human behaviour, and is the author of the New York Times best-seller Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything. In this episode, we discuss why forming a new habit doesn't take place in a certain number of days. The research shows repetition has nothing to do with it, and willpower isn't a factor either. The key is to tap into emotion - and in particular the feeling of being successful. That's how to wire a behaviour in and make it automatic. In this conversation, BJ and I discuss the specific process to form a new habit, and how to unravel ones you would rather do without. BJ Fogg's work has helped huge numbers of people around the world make significant and impactful changes in their own lives - and he can do it for you too.**Follow me:on instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/on twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring the best Life Lessons from over three years and more than 150 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com to sign up.**And a big shoutout to my sponsors whose support enables me to put out weekly episodes.Whether you are anxious, stressed, struggling to focus or sleep – there’s something for everyone in Puresport CBD's brilliant range of oils, capsules, balms and nootropics.Check out their amazing products at puresportcbd.com and get 20% off by using the code Life20 at checkout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why when we eat may be more important than what we eat. PLUS - why going outside to get natural light in the first half of the day helps a multitude of things including your mood and your sleep, while getting blue light at night - from your phone for example - has the opposite effect. As the days get shorter, this episode has some simple to implement but seriously powerful tips to help improve your health and wellbeing**Follow me:on instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/on twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from three years and more than 150 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.comHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will Greenwood is one of England's greatest ever rugby players. He played centre and was a key member of the 2003 World Cup winning side.His crucial try helped turn the game when England were trailing Wales in the quarter-finals, and one of the most memorable photos taken after England were crowned champions feautured Will and Jonny Wilkinson in a euphoric embrace.It has been nearly twenty years since England won the World Cup, and in that time Will says he has evolved hugely as a person. You could say his focus has gone from 'me' to 'we', a natural evolution for many of us over the course of a lifetime, although in Will's case it has been sped along by his experiences in sport, in business and in everyday life. Among other nuggets, Will emphasises the importance of kindness, 'radical acceptance' and careful use of language - subjects he touches on in his new book 'World Class: How to Lead, Learn and Grow like a Champion'**Follow me:on instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/on twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from three years and more than 150 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.comHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can you do to help someone who is battling addiction, and what are the ways we rationalise addictive behaviours?Tony Adams - who recently celebrated 25 years without a drink - helped set up the Sporting Chance treatment clinic two decades ago.In this episode - he shares wisdom around dealing with addiction. This episode is being released in response to the large number of messages and emails we received after Paul merson spoke about his battles with addiction in the last full-length episode.**Follow me:on instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/on twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from three years and more than 150 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com**Full ep with Tony Adams: https://play.acast.com/s/dont-tell-me-the-score-with-simon-mundie/addiction-tonyadamsHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Merson – the ex Arsenal, Villa and England footballer turned Soccer Saturday regular has battled issues for years with drink, drugs and gambling, which he considers to be the cruellest of the lot.Paul is currently clean and doing his bit to help others – not least through his new book Hooked: Addiction and the Long Road to Recovery.It’s a stark and at times brutal account of the damage addiction can reek, and in this episode we talk about what Paul has learnt along that long road to recovery. From learning not to identify with the addictive voice in your head, to learning to sit with uncomfortable thoughts and feelings – as well as the importance of opening up and talking about your problems.Addiction affects so many people – so if you know someone who might benefit from listening to this conversation please do share it with them.If you are new to the show and want to learn more about addiction, I’d suggest listening to my earlier episode with Tony Adams – founder of the sporting chance clinic, or I’d recommend my conversation with Dr Russ Harris – who shares powerful techniques any of us can use to relate to difficult thoughts and feelings like anxiety or anger in a more skillful and effective way**Follow me:on instagram https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/on twitter https://twitter.com/simonmundieAnd for the 'Mundie on Monday' newsletter - featuring three of the best Life Lessons from three years and more than 150 of these conversations - head to simonmundie.com**Tony Adams: https://play.acast.com/s/dont-tell-me-the-score-with-simon-mundie/addiction-tonyadamsDr. Russ Harris on managing uncomfortable thoughts and feelings: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dont-tell-me-the-score-life-lessons-from-sport-and-beyond/id1564063336?i=1000524427763Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything you experience - like thoughts, feelings, sensations and perceptions - come and go. But do you come and go with them?To help answer this question is philosopher Rupert Spira, who walks us through a simple but powerful process of 'self-enquiry'**My debut book - Champion Thinking: How To Find Success Without Losing Yourself - is available to buy from January 18. Drawing on some of my favourite interviews from this podcast over the last five years, I want to challenge our ideas about 'success', and where peace, joy and fulfilment are truly to be found. Flow is a fundamental theme, and we also cover self-enquiry in the book too.Order here: https://www.simonmundie.com/bookWebsite: simonmundie.comYouTube: https://tinyurl.com/YouTubeSimonMundieInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/simonmundie/Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.