Check out our Facebook and Instagram for regular posts on mental health and wellbeing – You Tube videos, podcasts, articles and links to some great resources. We are posting new articles, research, tips, and videos all the time so keep a look out. Find us on Facebook and Insta @ Performance_Edge_Psychology.

Blog Post:

Self Compassion in Sport

Self-compassion is a concept that has gained significant attention in recent years, especially in the world of sports. It is the practice of being kind, understanding, and forgiving towards oneself, especially when faced with challenges or failures. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of self-compassion in sport and how it can benefit athletes in achieving their goals.

Athletes, regardless of their level of expertise, face a lot of pressure, stress, and competition in their respective sports. They are expected to perform at their best every time, meet expectations, and win. This constant pressure can be mentally and emotionally exhausting, leading to self-doubt, anxiety, and burnout. This is where self-compassion comes in.

When an athlete practices self-compassion, they become more aware of their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. They learn to accept themselves, flaws, and all, and approach their challenges with kindness and understanding. This approach helps them to focus on the present moment, rather than dwelling on past mistakes or worrying about future outcomes.

Self-compassion can also help athletes deal with failure and setbacks. Instead of beating themselves up over a loss or a mistake, they can learn to accept it and use it as a learning opportunity. This way, they can bounce back quicker and come back stronger.

One of the main benefits of self-compassion is improved mental health. Athletes who practice self-compassion are less likely to experience anxiety, depression, or burnout. They are also more resilient, meaning that they can handle stress and pressure better than those who do not practice self-compassion.

Self-compassion can also benefit athletes’ physical health. When an athlete is kind and compassionate towards themselves, they are less likely to push themselves beyond their limits, which can lead to injuries or burnout. They are also more likely to listen to their bodies and take care of themselves, which can improve their overall physical health and performance.

In conclusion, self-compassion is a vital concept for athletes to understand and practice. It can help them to manage stress and pressure, deal with failure and setbacks, and improve their mental and physical health. By treating themselves with kindness and understanding, athletes can become better versions of themselves, both on and off the field.

Blog Post:

Grit: The Key to Achieving Your Goals

Grit is a trait that has been gaining attention in recent years due to its importance in predicting success and achievement in various areas of life. It refers to the perseverance and determination one shows in pursuing their goals, despite challenges and setbacks.

Studies have shown that grit is a better predictor of success than IQ or talent alone. This is because people with grit don’t give up easily, they have a strong passion for what they are pursuing, and they are willing to work hard for it.

But what is grit exactly, and how can one develop it? Psychologist Angela Duckworth, who popularized the concept of grit, defines it as the combination of perseverance and passion for long-term goals. It requires sticking to a goal for a long time, even when it’s difficult, and it requires being motivated by a deep interest or passion in the goal itself.

So, how can one develop grit? Here are some tips:

1. Set achievable, specific, and long-term goals: Having well-defined goals can help you stay focused and motivated, even when the going gets tough
2. Embrace challenges: Don’t shy away from challenges, instead embrace them as opportunities to learn and grow.
3. Cultivate a growth mindset: Believe that your abilities can be developed through effort and perseverance.
4. Learn from failure: See failure as an opportunity to learn and grow, not as a setback.
5. Seek feedback: Ask for constructive criticism and use it to improve.
6. Build resilience: Build mental and emotional resilience to withstand setbacks and failures.
7. Surround yourself with supportive people: Surround yourself with people who believe in you and support your goals.

In conclusion, grit is a valuable trait that can help you achieve your goals and reach success. It requires perseverance, determination, and a passion for what you are pursuing. By developing grit, you can overcome challenges and achieve your dreams.

Read below to see an article featuring commentary from our director/psychologist Caroline Anderson for ABC news regarding anxiety in sport. For the full article click here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-18/the-anxiety-project-nick-haynes-story/100917564

New Blog Post:

The Confidence Myth

Confidence is often seen as a key factor in success. From job interviews to public speaking, it’s easy to assume that confidence is what sets successful people apart from the rest. However, the myth of confidence suggests that waiting for confidence can actually hinder our progress towards our goals.

The myth of confidence suggests that we often wait for confidence to magically appear before we take action towards our goals. We may believe that once we feel confident, we will be ready to tackle whatever challenges come our way. However, this way of thinking can actually hold us back and prevent us from achieving our goals.

The truth is, confidence isn’t a prerequisite for success. In fact, waiting for confidence can lead to procrastination and missed opportunities. Instead, it’s more important to focus on taking action towards our goals, even when we feel uncertain or scared.

Taking action towards our goals, despite feeling uncertain or scared, can actually help us build confidence over time. When we take small steps towards our goals, we begin to see that we are capable of overcoming obstacles and achieving success. This can help us build a sense of self-efficacy, or the belief in our ability to accomplish our goals.

It’s important to remember that building confidence takes time and effort. It’s not something that can be achieved overnight or by simply waiting for it to appear. By taking action towards our goals, even when we feel uncertain, we can gradually build the confidence we need to achieve our dreams.

Click below to watch Performance Edge Psychology’s Director Caroline Anderson on ABC National News commenting on the issues around Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the French Open.

Click here – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-01/osaka-quits-french-open-after-press-conference/13368952?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web

New Article – Caroline Anderson’s recent media commentary for ABC News –  Link Here

Congratulations to our Team Member – Mark Spargo – Selected as the AOC Psychologist to attend the Tokyo Olympics 2021.  We wish Mark a safe journey.

ABC News article about Mental Health in Athletes during COVID19 where Caroline was interviewed Link Here

Caroline’s article on the importance of friendship as published for Your Life Choices Link here 

Except below:

Friendships aren’t just about having people to share experiences with. As psychologist Caroline Anderson explains, friendships are crucial, not only to our mental, emotional and overall health, but also to fulfil an innate human need.

Learn why we crave close-knit friends, how to have micro-moments of connection with friends and strangers alike, and find out the steps you can take to improve and expand your friendship circle.  How many friends do we need for good mental health?
If good friends are so important to mental health, it begs the question: does having more friends mean having better health?

The internet is awash with what Ms Anderson refers to as ‘pop psychology’, citing a so-called magic number of friends to aim for. “You’ll often read that having three to five friends is a nice amount. But I think it’s as simple as having one close connection,” she says. “We can have many connections around us, but if those connections aren’t meaningful – if they’re not based around emotional intimacy, developing trust, giving back and connection – then they aren’t going to be that effective anyway.”

Caroline was asked to present to the Australian Olympic Commission and the Olympic athletes on managing Mental Health During COVID19 in April 2020.

News Article

Caroline was asked to provide commentary for Reuters on the mental health impacts of COVID19 on athletes. Click here – Reuters Article

Presentation for Michelin Junior Racing Program

Caroline in action presenting to the @porschecars_au @carreracupaus@michelin Junior Racing Program Australian today at @porschemelbourne
These drivers are the top juniors in Australia and was a real pleasure to talk all things mindset and mental preparation for elite performance. Thanks to @motiv8_t for having us. Got to have a quick tour of the workshop too! #michelinjuniors

Podcast – Motiv8

You can listen from you preferred podcast app!

Caroline presented at the La Trobe university Cycling Classic on Mental Health in Sport.

Podcast Special Guest – Potential Psychology

Listen to it here

Caroline Anderson Podcast Potential Psychology

Performance and Wellbeing Video

Check out our awesome video on the link between performance and wellbeing – we interview some great Aussie athletes and hear about their perspective.

Interview with Crossing the Line

Listen here for Caroline’s interview on mindfulness and wellbeing in sport.

Radio Interview – “The Home Stretch” July 2016

Caroline’s YouTube Clip

Lorna Jane Blog Articles

Our Clinic Director was recently asked to write a few articles for the popular Blog “Move, Nourish, Believe”.  Caroline wrote two articles – Find there here

Lorna Jane – Caroline Anderson – High Performance Mindset

Lorna Jane – Caroline Anderson – Impact of Technology

ABC News Article

ABC News Article  Click here to read an interesting article ABC news National Sports Editor interviewed Director Caroline Anderson – on ADHD in elite sport.

Check Out Our New Social Media Posts

And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Insta @performanceedgepsychology.

Our Performance and Wellbeing Video

Watch the video below – By Performance Edge Psychology. We aim to spread the word about the connection and importance of wellbeing and performance in all areas of life. Hear about what some of our most successful Olympians have to say about what the word wellbeing means to them and the link between wellbeing and perforamnce.

Presenting @ Gilbert + Tobin Lawyers in Melbourne and Sydney Sept 2017

“Improving Wellbeing and Performance”

Women’s in Sport and Ice Hockey Summit – September 2017 (presenting on Athlete Mental Health)

WON – Women’s Olympic Network – Oct 2017

I was very proud to be part of the idea, development behind and become an Ambassador for the first Women’s Olympic Network. The afternoon tea was a tremendous success with so many wonderful and talented female Olympians, with the aim to assist with connection, networking, supporting, sharing and celebrating with current and former Olympians.

Caroline Anderson – Ambassador for Women’s Health Week

Women of Sport – Margot Foster

June 2017 Caroline Anderson – Pictured With Danni Roche OAM, Lauren Burns OAM, Victoria Roberts MBA)

Olympians in Business – Lunch 2017

Podcast Interview for Crossing the Line Sports – June 2017

Expert Commentator for Spring St (US arm of the Mamamia Network)

Caroline was recently asked to contribute to an article on anxiety in the city. Find the article here http://www.spring.st/city-causes-anxiety-fixes

Recent News Story on Caroline Anderson and Performance Edge Psychology

Read it here http://www.bizhubmaroondah.com.au/content/1493/

The Wellbeing Project @ Nicholes Family Lawyers March 2017

I came to present The Wellbeing Project to Nicholes Family Lawyer in March 2017. Interestingly, I happened to come on a very busy and pressured day.  Some solicitors were unable to attend at the last minute. During the workshop  we discussed this and it highlighted how important self care, self awareness and being mindful in a high performance environment is.  In this session we focused on the concepts of wellbeing in the workplace, the neuroscience of stress, mindfulness, mindfulness and performance, flow, acceptance, uni-tasking and being technologically mindful.  It was a great interactive session and had much positive feedback.

The Wellbeing Project @ Gilbert+Tobin – February 2017

In February 2017 we presented The Wellbeing Project to Gilbert+ Tobin – a leading law firm in Melbourne. We covered so many topics in this two hour session with the aim of improving wellbeing and performance in the workplace. It was a privilege to share my personal experiences and psychological knowledge of high performance environments with the talented and hard working associates and partners. We know that rates of depression, anxiety and suicide are high amongst Solicitors/Barristers and that is why this work and conversations are so important and I am thankful for this organisation in addressing these issues.

Crossing the Line Summit – February 2017

It was a real honour to present at the Crossing the Line Summit in Sydney.  So many important themes and take home messages. Some key points were around wellbeing, mental health, athlete transition to retirement, career, identity, and doping. It was an honor to be on the panel with Kim Brennan Olympic champion, Vickey Roberts olympic rower, Jenni Screen Olympic Basketballer, Jade Edmistone Swimmer. Today also opened my eyes to some issues I knew little about such as gender transition in sport and doping in sport especially cycling. It was great to be there and be part of an open/honest discussion and to be able to contribute in a small way.

Olympians Gala Dinner November 2016

I had a wonderful night at the Olympians Club Gala Dinner and was thrilled to meet Dawn Fraser and hang out with my awesome friend and gold medalist Lauren Burns and many other lovely people. The highlight of the night for me was when Daniel Kowalski spoke on stage honestly about the reality and impact of competition anxiety. It had the whole audience talking about his comments and congratulation him on his eloquence and authenticity as this is still an area that we often don’t acknowledge or talk about.

Ever Wondered What Actually Goes On In A Therapy Session?

Over the years – there are times when I tell people I am a psychologist I get met with these responses – “Are you psychoanalysing me right now?” “What am I thinking?” and “So you just sit there and listen to people talk all day?” It makes me think there are still quite a lot of misconceptions about what psychologists actually do and how we do what we do. We do not have special powers that can measure your whole personality within moments of meeting you, we are not psychics and there is a lot more to being a therapist than just listening (although of course empathic listening is important).

So what is it we do?

Psychologists have studied the factors that influence the way that people think, feel and behave, and use evidence-based strategies and interventions to help people to overcome challenges, improve their general functioning, performance, wellbeing, relationships and health. There are many different types of psychologists – clinical, sports, educational, health, forensic, organizational, neuropsychologists and counseling psychologists.

In my private practice I cover a wide range of areas predominantly clinical psychology (dealing with mental health conditions) and performance psychology (improving performance and managing anxiety in sporting and workplace contexts). This includes seeing both adults, adolescents and children with depression, anxiety disorders and other complex mental health issues. I see people with substance abuse, relationship issues, anger management problems, self esteem, and sleep difficulties. I also work with people wishing to improve their wellbeing and performance in sport or in terms of their career.

Many people actually find it really hard to make the decision to see a psychologist. It can be a really big step to take, to acknowledge there may be a problem that you need help with. There may also be stigma attached with the idea of seeing a psychologist – “only crazy people need to see a psychologist” or a belief that seeking help is somehow a sign of weakness. I really understand how difficult that first step can be for some people and my aim to always to make people feel as comfortable as possible, reduce the stigma, noramlise the process, and be able to engage with clients who walk into my rooms on an authentic level, and in a meaningful way. Basically I want my clients to know I care about them, will support them and try to connect with them in a sincere and honest way within a safe, relaxed and confidential environment.

The very first session is really all about finding out what prompted our client to seek help, a bit about who they are as a person and their background including work, family and social life. We need to do an assessment in the first session as to what is going on and form an opinion as to the predisposing, precipitating, perpetuating and protective factors for our clients – which is basically a formulation of the factors that has lead the client to be experiencing what they are currently experiencing. We need to asses if the client is experiencing a diagnosable mental health condition and what the priorities for treatment are.

It’s really important to provide feedback about the assessment, then work together to come up with a plan for treatment, goals, understand the expectations of therapy and how long it might take. I also believe its really important to give my clients as much information and education about the issues they are struggling with as knowledge is power. For example I may have a client that’s having issues with anxiety in the workplace or in anticipation of upcoming competitions/tournaments.  I need to ensure they leave my rooms with a really good understanding of how anxiety works, the vicious cycle it creates, what causes it, and what perpetuates it.

In my next post I will delve into what goes on after the first session. What kinds of treatments can a psychologist provide? What kinds of strategies? Do they work?

Performance Edge Psychology Director, Caroline Anderson – Named A “Great Australian” At The Great Australian’s Gala Dinner on the 15th October 2016

50 Great Australians were honoured on the night including Ray Martin, Kitty Chiller, Nova Peris, David Malouf, Normie Rowe, Wendy Matthews, James Morrison, Shane Kelly, Mark Thompson, Carol Cooke, and Duncan Armstrong to name but a few. A wonderful night and it was for such a great cause – raising money and awareness for Growing Hope, a charity providing support to those left behind by the tragedy of suicide. For more info visit http://greataustraliansgaladinner.com.au

 

Interview with Lydia Lassila and Liz Ellis

Lydia Lassila is one powerhouse of ambition, strength, determination and courage. She currently holds three world records, with the latest being the first women in history ever to perform a quad-twisting triple somersault. This jump was the most difficult jump ever done by a female aerial skier and earned Lydia a Bronze Medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games. In 2010 she won an Olympic Gold Medal in Vancouver. Lydia has two children as well as being a successful entrepreneur having launched her company Body Ice in 2006. She wrote an autobiography called “JUMP” and has a documentary on her achievements titled “The Will To Fly”.  She has always be a real role model to me and I really wanted to  know what motivates her, how she manages being an athlete, entrepreneur and mum, and what she thinks about the gender gap in sport – so I decided to ask her!

1. How did you first become involved in your sport?

I had retired from gymnastics and was looking for a new challenge. At the same time The Olympic Winter Institute (OWI) were looking for ex gymnasts to begin a pilot programme to see if they could convert gymnasts to aerials skiers. I jumped at the opportunity!

2. Why do you think the Australian women have dominated in Freestyle Aerial Skiing as opposed to the men’s team?

Because we’ve generally only ever recruited women and ran a women’s program. We’ve had a couple of male aerial skiers in the past (90’s), but since those times David Morris was the first to really commit and fight for a spot in our team. He persisted and is now one of the best male aerial skiers in the world! Pretty good odds and we now have started to recruit more males:)

3. What are some of the challenges of being an elite female athlete? Have you noticed any differences between female and male athletes?

Not in our sport – male and females are rewarded equally. However, there’s an enormous difference between the profiles of various sports in Australia where certain athletes/codes receive a much larger financial reward and also receive more media and more recognition in general. It doesn’t mean they train harder or a better than the rest of us, but they certainly are rewarded more.

4. Why were you so determined to become the first woman to perform the sport’s most complex aerobatic manoeuvre?

Because I really wanted to prove that women were just as capable. I believed I could do it and it was important to see it through.

5. In your experience, how do you feel the media portrays female athletes? Have you ever had to face negative public scrutiny?

I prefer to be recognised for my on field performance rather than off field so I haven’t put myself in the situation of being publicly scrutinised. I think the media is improving in how they portray female athletes and the focus has shifted from physical attributes to physical performance – a step in the right direction.

6. Being the founder and director of a successful business, what issues do you think women face in the corporate sector?

I think the corporate sector is also shifting. More and more women are being recognised/respected and rewarded for their business performance however, those women generally have to really fight hard (harder than their male counterparts) for these positions. I enjoy running my business and I don’t feel that being a woman has hindered me in any way.…. I suppose I don’t get intimidated very easily:) It’s quite funny actually, most people assume I’m just the face or ambassador of BodyICE and are usually quite shocked when I tell them that I designed the products and built the business from the ground up (whilst being an elite athlete)!

7. How do you balance being an athlete/entrepreneur and a mother to two young children?

It’s not an easy juggle that’s for sure!! I find myself constantly prioritising my To-Do list and trying to focus on one thing at a time – which my experience in sport has certainly helped me with. I also have the right support team. We have a live in nanny who helps with the kids when I’m off at meetings or training. I also choose to work from home and have created a satellite team because I like the flexibility/freedom and being close to my kids(and I like hanging out in my trackies). I check in with my BodyICE team daily to make sure we’re tracking in the right direction. So all in all, I think I’ve designed a set up that works for me and my family whistle allowing me remain productive in sport and business.

8. What personal attributes to do you think athletes can offer in the world of business?

Athletes know how to work hard. They know how to set goals and make a plan to achieve them. They know how to handle being out of their comfort zone and managing risk and they know how to perform and deliver under pressure – all crucial for success in business.

8. You have decided to return to training and compete at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, your 5th Olympics. How did you come to this decision, was it a difficult decision to make and what kind of challenges and sacrifises to you expect to encounter on this journey?

There are certainly going to be some challenges as I have a lot on my plate these days. However, I arrived at the decision quite easily:) I just love being an athlete and the thrill and feeling of competing on the international stage is irreplaceable – no matter how much you jam into life and try to move on. I figure, if the motivation and love is still there, then I shouldn’t deny it. Aerial skiing isn’t a sport you can do recreationally so when it’s over, it’s over and the last thing I want to live with is regret of not trying to go to a 5th Olympics.

Liz Ellis is one of the most respected names in netball, with a remarkable 18 year elite career including 2 Commonwealth Gold Medals, 3 World Championships, 4 National League titles, 4 Most Valuable Player awards and an Australian record of 122 Test matches played. In 2009 Liz became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Australia Day Honours for “services to netball and the encouragement of women in sport, and to the community through support for a range of charitable organisations”. Liz is also an experienced broadcaster and media personality. Liz has also always been one of my role models so I contacted her to be interviewed!  (Liz gave birth to her second child in April this year so I was so thankful to her for answering my questions!)

1. How did you first become involved in your sport?

My mum played and so I followed her.

2. What are some of the challenges of being an elite female athlete?

For me it was about trying to make enough money to live on whilst pursuing an elite career in a sport that was largely amateur while I played it.

3. Have you noticed any differences between female athletes in sports such as netball and male athletes in sports such as the AFL?

There are many differences between them – too many to analyse in a paragraph. At the end of the day though there are plenty of similarities too.

4. In your experience, how do you feel the media portrays female athletes?

The portrayal of female athletes by the media has changed over the years since I have been involved. Whilst the quantity of media coverage is increasing at a glacial pace, the quality has improved markedly. Whereas in years gone by the coverage would be somewhat patronising now it is informed and opinionated.

4. Can you tell us about the Liz Ellis Goals for Girls Foundation and why this is important to you?

The Goals 4 Girls foundation is my small way of giving back. AT the moment we are funding 2 scholarships for young indigenous women in the Tiwi islands to work as teacher’s aids at Tiwi College. I feel that we are making a difference to the lives of many young girls in this manner.

5. You hold a number of board positions. What do you think that women can contribute to leadership positions within sport?

Women bring a different experience to leadership. From a board point of view this is important as diverse boards tend to produce better outcomes.

6. How do you balance being an athlete/business woman and a mother to two young children?

I am very strict with myself about managing my time. I prioritise my children first but I also ensure that they understand that there are times when I have to work and that is important too. My husband and I try to co-parent so it allows us to work on our businesses and enjoy parenthood.

I am grateful to Lydia and Liz for taking the time from their busy schedules to chat with me.

Speaking at the MCG Women of the MCC – Celebrating the Olympics night – Oct 2016

How Does Your Negativity Bias Affect You?

Did you know that we all have a negativity bias? This is the phenomenon where negative events, thoughts and feelings have a greater effect on us than positive events of equal intensity. The amygdala (our fight or flight response otherwise known as the alarm bell of your brain) uses about two-thirds of its neurons to look for bad news: it’s primed to go negative. Our brains are built to be more sensitive toward the negative, it stems from a protective evolutionary response to keep us out of danger. That’s great, but in today’s complex society it gets overused. Having a negativity bias is no longer necessary for our survival, but our brains are still wired to constantly be on the lookout for those saber tooth tigers coming to eat us in our caves.

We have all experienced it… you know when you hand in that report, do a presentation, or finish a competition and you may get loads of positive feedback from colleagues, managers, or team mates. But there may be one piece of advice, constructive criticism or comment in amongst all the positive that gets to you. It feels personal, it feels hurtful or it feels unfair. And that one thing goes round and round it you head and you can’t stop ruminating about it. It’s a common theme with the clients I see in my private practice.

Part of this negativity bias is that we are more likely to focus and dwell on something that’s gone wrong than on things that have gone well. For positive experiences to resonate, they have to occur much more frequently than negative ones. This of course can lead to an excessively negative and unbalanced way of thinking, and the problem is that mostly we are not even aware of it.

With no awareness of it, the negativity bias can have a serious impact on your happiness and quality of life. It might affect your sense of wellbeing, personal relationships, career prospects or even choices you make when presented with new opportunities. So, recognising this pattern of thinking in your life is the first step to change.

Simple as it sounds, gratitude is another antidote to this negativity bias. Actively practicing gratitude makes you feel better and has a positive impact on your health, wellbeing, relationships, and quality of work. How? It helps to re-wire the neural pathways in your brain to counteract the tendency to focus on the negative. I know gratitude journals are quite trendy right now, but don’t worry – if writing a journal is not for you, just try and think about 3 things you are grateful for at some point throughout the day.

And lastly, when something positive happens, try to take a moment to savor the experience. Replay it in your mind a few times so that the memory of the positive experience gets archived in your long-term memory.

Author

Caroline Anderson is a Psychologist and Olympian, and is the founder of Performance Edge Psychology. She sees a range of clients in her private practice and her company delivers presentations to athletes, sporting organisations, businesses and school on enhancing performance and wellbeing through evidence based, psychological and innovative approaches.

Please do not hesitate to email with any questions or comments – info@carolineandersonpsychology.com.au

August 2016 – Mindfulness Presentation to Price Waterhouse Cooper

   

“Why I wish I had known about Mindfulness when I competed at the Olympics…” July 2016 Written for Victorian Olympic Council 

Mindfulness is a hot topic in current psychology, the media, in business and the world in general. I sort of feel like there is a “mindfulness revolution” going on and over recent year something I have become both personally and professionally passionate about. Why? Well, I guess I can see it was something that was missing from my 2004 Olympic preparation. Mindfulness has been around for a long time but wasn’t really applied to sporting contexts until around 2006. I wish I had the skills of being a mindful athlete back then, but I am so happy that now as a psychologist I can teach mindfulness skills to athletes, sporting organisations, coaches, schools and the corporate sector.
Mindfulness is gaining a great deal of attention along with more research to scientifically back up the benefits. Global companies such as Google now embrace it, world class athletes like Kobe Bryant promote it, of course Oprah loves it and locally even the AFL are on board.

But what exactly is Mindfulness? It is basically about feeling more balanced, being in-tune with the present and able to respond to life with openness, clarity and acceptance. Mindfulness helps train the brain to help us stay focused, avoid distraction and perform at our best.

It is not a new concept, with its roots stemming from Buddhism, yoga and even martial arts. It is increasingly recognised as an effective way to reduce stress, raise self-awareness, enhance emotional intelligence, assists with memory, attention and decision making and improve work and sporting performance.

I have found that a lot of people have now heard the word on the street that mindfulness is good for us – but lack a deep understanding of what it is and how to apply it. Put simply, mindfulness is a process of awareness, not thinking. It’s about experiencing the moment with an attitude of curiosity, openness (rather than judgment) and have flexibility of awareness (choose what we pay attention to).

Sounds great right? But you may be thinking how can that help athletes perform at their best? Well… athletes can learn the skill of awareness and by practicing mindfulness. It helps us stay focused, avoid distraction and perform at our best. By not dwelling on past mistakes/losses and not worrying about the future negative possibilities, athletes can learn to pay attention to the only moment that matters – the present. Being 100% focused and present in the game/race obviously results in enhanced athletic performance.

All athletes experience some level of anxiety, fear, self doubt or stress in the lead up to major competitions. These emotions engage the fight or flight response which results from the increased activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the amygdala which in turn releases hormones such as adrenaline, norepinephrine and cortisol. Prolonged activation of this can result in decreased optimum health and wellbeing – which is obviously not great for athletes about to compete on the world stage.

It’s now understood that mindfulness is one of the best ways to calm this stress response in the brain. Practicing mindfulness techniques helps improve the mind-body connection and allows us to notice our thoughts and emotions without getting attached to them. Frequent practice helps manage anxiety provoking thoughts and emotions that may arise during competition.

What’s more – its been shown in MRI’s that through mindful practice the amygdala “fight or flight” center appears to shrink and the pre-frontal cortex – associated with higher order brain functions such as awareness, concentration and decision-making – becomes thicker! Amazing!

Something else that has been gaining loads of attention lately is “flow” (the new name for being in “the zone”). “Flow is a mindset that typically occurs when there is a balance between the challenges associated with a situation and the athletes belief of their capability to meet those demands” Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990).

Flow is when an athlete is completely absorbed, has lower self-consciousness, loses track of time and experiences greater intrinsic satisfaction. Performance becomes automatic and feels effortless. Flow is really at its core about present moment awareness – which is what mindfulness is right? So rather than trying to control thoughts, feelings research shows it is more beneficial for athletes to develop skills in present-moment awareness and acceptance.

How can we do this? Here are some basic tips…

• Have a visual or tactile reminder during competition that consistently bring you into the moment
• Using your senses (see, hear, smell, taste, touch) to build the mind and body connection in the present.
• You do not need to ‘empty your mind’ or ‘push thoughts away’ or control them in any way. Simply notice or observe your thoughts, without engaging with them
• If your mind starts to analyses or judge your experience, acknowledge this, then gently unhook your attention and bring it back to non-judgmental awareness.
• Your mind may wander once or 100 times – each time acknowledge, unhook and guide it back to the present moment.
• Focusing attention on your breathing quickly reverses the fight or flight response.
• Labelling whatever emotion you are experiencing. This interrupts the amygdala activity and increases activity in the prefrontal cortex

There are many ways to bring mindful practice into your everyday. There are now apps, podcasts, youtube clips, and MP3 downloads to listen to guided mindful meditations. Psychologists can also help work out how best to apply mindfulness to your daily routine. It may be as easy as washing the dishes mindfully, or having a mindful shower. These are all things that athletes can do to help their mental game whilst not physically training.  Something I wish I had known about!!

Author

Caroline Anderson is the founder of Performance Edge Psychology. As an ex-Olympian, her psychology practice helps both athletes and people in business develop strategies for achieving peak performance through individual therapy or group presentations. If you have any questions or comments please email info@carolineandersonpsychology.com.au

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“Some Reflections on The Inside Game” June 2016 – written for the Victorian Olympic Council – Social Media 

So the count-down is on. In just two short months our Aussie athletes will be off to compete at the Rio Olympics. And it is always around this time in the lead up to a Games, when I start thinking and reflecting on my own Olympic journey. This will be the third Olympic cycle since I competed at the Athens Olympics in 2004. And still, all these years later, emotions run high.

Just watching on TV, I know I will be crying for happiness when our athletes win – crying for them knowing how hard their journey has been, knowing the sacrifices they have made along the way and that all that work has finally paid off. I will be feeling their sadness with compassion and empathy when their dreams don’t become reality, when they don’t achieve all they had worked for, and when it feels like everything comes down crashing around them.

During my Olympic journey (and I always use the word journey – because that is exactly what it is, an epic adventure filled with the highest highs, and the lowest lows) I was training to become a psychologist.

However, all these years later I am still surprised that I didn’t focus more on my mental game. There just didn’t seem time, there were other much more important things to focus on like tactical training, strength and conditioning…etc. I thought I had been doing the right kinds of things – visualisation, imagery, relaxation and positive self talk. I had the support of a wonderful psychologist from the VIS in the lead up to the Games.

Yet… looking back now, I wonder if there was more I could have done? I know I put in all I could into my physical preparation, and I will never regret how I performed on the day, but a question will always be there – could I have done more in terms of my mental preparation? Could I have done more to ease the doubts that crept into the back of my mind?

The self criticisms we all have – after all, even elite athletes are human and susceptible to worries and fears of failure. I know now that this is completely normal. But I wonder if at the time I did. Maybe I worried that having fears or doubts indicated that I really wasn’t up to the task. That it meant I didn’t deserve to be there. Well meaning coaches, family and friends reminded me I must be confident and have total belief in myself and so I kept trying to push those negative thoughts away.

Fast forward 12 years and here I am, a psychologist with loads of experience and training, working with a range of different clients, including athletes wishing to work on mental techniques and their wellbeing in order to improve their performance. I see the battle that goes on in the minds of all my clients, be it someone struggling with depression or an athlete trying to get to the top of their sport.

And what I see is that we all have the negative voice inside our heads telling us that we are not good enough. These thoughts create doubt and confusion, and chip away at our self-confidence. Why do we listen to these thoughts so much? Why do we believe them to be true? Dr Russ Harris author of The Happiness Trap calls this the “I’m not good enough story,” a universal internal story that repeats in our head and that we all have to some degree. The difference is not that some people don’t have this, it’s that they are better at paying less attention to this story. There is so much emphasis in society on positive thinking and challenging negative thoughts that the idea that negative thoughts are not dangerous or harmful is a major revelation for clients I work with.

Research suggests that athletes who accept both their positive and negative thoughts/beliefs and maintain focus on the task at hand are more likely to perform at their true potential. We don’t need to get into a battle with our thoughts, trying to force ourselves to only think positive. If we pay less attention to negative thoughts, it frees us to enter a state of observation rather than thinking, focus rather than judgment. There are a number of techniques that psychologists use to help clients get some distance or “defusion” from their “I’m not good enough story”. So remember:

• Thoughts are simple passing states in the mind that do not require action
• Be willing to experience any emotion or thought that may arise in competition
• There is no need to judge experiences/thoughts as positive or negative
• Know and accept that anxiety may exist and including it as part of your pre-match routine is key to success rather than becoming overwhelmed by anxiety

Helping athletes learn about acceptance and mindfulness is a real passion of mine. By practicing mindfulness we become more open to the possibility of entering “flow” state in high pressure situations – something I can’t wait to expand on in my next blog post.

Author

Caroline Anderson is the founder of Performance Edge Psychology. As an ex-Olympian, her psychology practice helps both athletes and people in business develop strategies for achieving peak performance through individual therapy or group presentations.

Please do not hesitate to email with any questions or comments – info@carolineandersonpsychology.com.au

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774 ABC Radio Interview 2008

Just found this photo from back in 2008 when I was on the Conversation Hour with Ally Moore on ABC 774 with Kitty Chiller and Jacqui Marshal as guests.  We were discussing all things Olympics, athletes and funding in sports.