Psychological Factors in Sports

Mental Strength: What You Can Learn About Resilience From The Special Forces

by
EP 144 Episode Cover Jon Watkins

Mental Strength: What You Can Learn About Resilience From The Special Forces

Mental Strength What You Can Learn About Resilience From The Special Forces

Jon Watkins is the co-owner of the multi-award-winning Resilience Development Co. and former special forces soldier. A specialist resilience and transformation coach who develops the skills and behaviours that enable people and teams to perform, adapt and thrive during periods of high pressure, change and uncertainty.

In today’s episode I chat with Jon Watkins a resilience and transformation coach and a former special forces soldier.  Jon shares insights into some challenges that he overcame in the military and the importance of mindset.  Goal setting is introduced, concepts such as self-leadership, natural resilience, adaptive resilience and psychological safety we also touch on and a lot more.  Enjoy tuning in!

Key Learning Points:

  • The selection process in the special forces produced likeminded mentally and physically robust individuals who shared collective goals and went on to create a fantastic environment to work in.
  • Self-leadership was a huge part of the special forces.
  • My comfort zone was pushed to its maximum.
  • When considering goal setting, relating it back to your values is essential.
  • Chunking down your goals is a skill that anyone can develop.
  • Mental Toughness is built around that perseverance, never giving up element to it and being disciplined to live through your values.
  • Resilience in general is about bouncing back.
  • Natural resilience is the resilience that we’re born with.
  • Adaptive resilience is heavily influenced by our environment.

Connect with Jon Watkins

LinkedIn

Website

Connect with David Charlton

Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

Other Useful Podcast Episodes

Ep065: Dr Amy Izycky – Encouraging Mentally Healthy Cultures in Sport

Ep066: Marilyn Okoro – Mental Health and Resilience: Lessons from an Olympic Medalist

Ep114: Tim Bradshaw – Because I Can – How To Get Out Of Your Own Way

Ep123: Richard Dorney – Supporting People: What Can You Learn About Resilience From The Military

Ep140: Chris Cook – How to Improve Your Mental Strength: Secrets from an Olympian

Other Useful Resources linked to Resilience

Blog – 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment

Blog – 3 Tips to Deal with Bullying in Sport

Blog – How to Find Your Why 

Blog – Mental Health Guidance for Coaches When Supporting Athletes

Blog – Resilient and Mentally Tough: 9 Things You Can Learn From Tiger Woods

THE SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY HUB

IF YOU ENJOYED TODAY'S SHOW PLEASE SHARE

SUBSCRIBE AND LISTEN ON YOUR FAVOURITE AUDIO PLATFORM

Spotify
Apple Itunes Podcast

Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and we read every single one of them!

David Charlton

Best Wishes 

David Charlton

Global Sports Psychologist who is located near Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK and willing to travel Internationally.  David also uses online video conferencing software (Zoom, Facetime, WhatsApp) on a regular basis and has clients who he has supported in USA, Canada, South America, UAE, Australian and New Zealand.  

Managing Director – Inspiring Sporting Excellence and Founder of The Sports Psychology Hub.  With over 10 years experience supporting athletes, coaches, parents and teams to achieve their goals, quickly. 

E: info@sport-excellence.co.uk

To Chat with David
Mental Edge Newsletter
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Instagram

Conversations With Kids: Sport Coach

by
Conversations with kids development and enjoyment

Conversations with Kids – Week 8 For parents and guardians where we give you prompts so that you can have more meaningful conversations with your children to help them build key characteristics such as mental toughness, resilience, confidence, creativity, focus and so on. A Question for your Kids If you could write a book for

How Your Money Mindset Influences Your Behaviour

by
EP 143 Episode Cover Lesley Thomas

How Your Money Mindset Influences Your Behaviour

How Your Money Mindset Influences Your Behaviour

Lesley Thomas is the founder of The Money Confidence Academy and host of the Let’s Talk Money and more’ Podcast. Lesley works with service based business owners and entrepreneurs, to help them improve their relationship and confidence about money. The more, we own our Money Story, the more we inspire and empower those around us.  The more we defy the belief that money is not for us and talk about it from a place of confidence, the bigger the wave of change.

Having already created a very successful family business over 16 years ago, she understands the intricacies and financial responsibilities involved in owning your own business. With a considerable corporate background in sales, creative marketing and mentoring, across global joint ventures, Lesley developed a keen interest in the power of building strong relationships and synergies, resulting in an impressive portfolio of over achieving on targets. Although Lesley is an advocator for practical business principles, she also believes that in order to lead a lucrative business, you have to create a brand that sets you apart.

An ex-pat from Wales, when Lesley in not working on creating powerful money make-overs for her clients, she can be found at her home in Wiltshire – with her amazingly supportive husband and two sons, or treading the boards in her local village hall, microphone in hand, or accompanying her family to the Alpine mountains, to indulge in their favourite outdoor pursuits .

In today’s episode I chat with the author and the founder of The Money Confidence Academy, Lesley Thomas, where we discuss a subject some people are uncomfortable discussing “money”.  Lesley shares valuable insights into our money mindset and how money can impact our self-worth.  For psychology practitioners or business professionals we chat about pricing your services and conversations that come with this.   We also highlight the relationship between your mental toughness and money.

Key Learning Points:

  • A confident relationship with money starts with having a confident relationship with yourself.
  • Our relationship with money starts around the age of 7 years old, based on what we hear our parents say about money.
  • We often connect our relationship with money with our self-worth.
  • When setting goals pure financial goals are not particularly motivating for a lot of people as they don’t create an emotional connection.
  • See money as an enabler.
  • Social comparison is harmful.
  • When pricing your services consider the results that you are bringing for your clients.

Connect with Lesley Thomas:

LinkedIn

Website – The Money Confidence Academy

Connect with David Charlton

Sign Up to Conversations with Kids

Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

Useful Podcast Episodes

Ep121: Doug Strycharczyk and Dr John Perry – What Is New? Developments in Mental Toughness Research and Practice

Ep128: Paula Eddy-Wilcox – Can You Show Vulnerability and Be Mentally Tough? Yes!

Ep132: Kevin Stansfield – How Lessons from Golf can help with Game of Business

Ep133: Christina Flach – Why Mental Toughness is Important: Lessons from Sport, Business and Loss

Ep139: Steve Beharall – Steve Beharall’s Journey from Football Coach to CEO

Other Useful Resources

Blog – How to Find Your Why 

Blog – 5 Reasons team captains should work with a Sports Psychologist

Blog – Mental Toughness is a Hugely Valuable Trait

Blog – 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment

Blog – Mental Health Guidance for Coaches When Supporting Athletes

THE SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY HUB

IF YOU ENJOYED TODAY'S SHOW PLEASE SHARE

SUBSCRIBE AND LISTEN ON YOUR FAVOURITE AUDIO PLATFORM

Spotify
Apple Itunes Podcast

Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and we read every single one of them!

David Charlton

Best Wishes 

David Charlton

Global Sports Psychologist who is located near Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK and willing to travel Internationally.  David also uses online video conferencing software (Zoom, Facetime, WhatsApp) on a regular basis and has clients who he has supported in USA, Canada, South America, UAE, Australian and New Zealand.  

Managing Director – Inspiring Sporting Excellence and Founder of The Sports Psychology Hub.  With over 10 years experience supporting athletes, coaches, parents and teams to achieve their goals, quickly. 

E: info@sport-excellence.co.uk

To Chat with David
Mental Edge Newsletter
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Instagram

Conversations With Kids: Big Picture

by
Conversations With Kids: Environment and Culture

Conversations with Kids – Week 7 For parents and guardians where we give you prompts so that you can have more meaningful conversations with your children to help them build key characteristics such as mental toughness, resilience, confidence, creativity, focus and so on.   A Question for your Kids If you could rename your club, what

Is Striving For Perfection A Good Thing In Gymnastics?

by
EP 142 Episode Cover Alessia Bruno

Is Striving For Perfection A Good Thing In Gymnastics?

Dr. Alessia Bruno is a Clinical and Sports Psychologist, Mental and Performance Trainer specialising in Brainspotting and EMDR. She lectures at National Sport congresses and holds courses accredited by the Ministry of Health.  She helps athletes and performing artists to overcome blocks, choking, slumps, yips, trauma and works with expansion to take people and their potential beyond to where it was before the issue.

Alessia Bruno

Clinical and Sports Psychologist – Dr. Alessia Bruno

In episode 142 of Demystifying Mental Toughness, Dr. Alessia Bruno and David discuss perfectionism in gymnastics as well as across other sports and walks of life.  We go on to look at healthy perfectionism, as well as the downsides to the trait where we share some advice for gymnasts, athletes in general, coaches and parents.

Key Learning Points

  • Gymnasts are judged on their performances which can go on to impact their self-esteem.
  • The intensity of their lives can mean some gymnasts run the risk of burnout.
  • Characteristics of rigidity and control can lead people to be more vulnerable to other people’s judgments.
  • Perfectionist traits can suck the fun out of sport.
  • Social approval can be a big problem for some athletes where they spend a lot of time worrying about what others think.
  • Striving for perfection can lead to excessive self-criticism.

Connect with Professor Alessia Bruno

Website

Connect with David Charlton

Sign Up to Conversations with Kids

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

Relevant Podcast Episodes

Ep014: Alessia Bruno – The Yips, Crashes, Trauma in Sport there is hope for Athletes

Ep122: Prof Camilla Knight – Helping Your Children Get The Most From Their Sporting Experiences

Ep129: David Charlton – How to Deal with Self-Criticism using Self Compassion – PT1

Ep130 David Charlton – How to Deal with Self-Criticism using Self Compassion – PT2

Ep131 David Charlton – How to Deal with Self-Criticism using Self Compassion – FINAL PART

Other Relevant Blogs and Resources

Blog: How to Stay Relaxed as a Gymnast When the Pressure is On

Blog: How to Overcome Psychological Blocks in Gymnastics

Blog: Body Image in Sport

Blog: Bullying -The Dark Side of Sport

Gymnastics Psychology Library

THE SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY HUB

IF YOU ENJOYED TODAY'S SHOW PLEASE SHARE

SUBSCRIBE AND LISTEN ON YOUR FAVOURITE AUDIO PLATFORM

Spotify
Apple Itunes Podcast

Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and we read every single one of them!

David Charlton

Best Wishes 

David Charlton

Global Sports Psychologist who is located near Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK and willing to travel Internationally.  David also uses online video conferencing software (Zoom, Facetime, WhatsApp) on a regular basis and has clients who he has supported in USA, Canada, South America, UAE, Australian and New Zealand.  

Managing Director – Inspiring Sporting Excellence and Founder of The Sports Psychology Hub.  With over 10 years experience supporting athletes, coaches, parents and teams to achieve their goals, quickly. 

E: info@sport-excellence.co.uk

To Chat with David
Mental Edge Newsletter
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Instagram

Conversations With Kids: Criticism

by
Conversations with kids criticism

Conversations with Kids – Week 6 For parents and guardians where we give you prompts so that you can have more meaningful conversations with your children to help them build key characteristics such as mental toughness, resilience, confidence, creativity, focus and so on.   A Question for your Kids When have you been criticised by a

Conversations With Kids: Imposter Syndrome

by
Conversations with kids impostor syndrome

Conversations with Kids – Week 5 For parents and guardians where we give you prompts so that you can have more meaningful conversations with your children to help them build key characteristics such as mental toughness, resilience, confidence, creativity, focus and so on. A Question for your Kids Do you sometimes think that you are