In episode 255 of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, David discusses the fear of rejection, particularly in the context of how it can hinder sport performance. He shares personal experiences of overcoming this fear, emphasizing its prevalence in sports and life. David offers three tips to manage the fear of rejection; 1) viewing it as part of the game, 2) practicing self-compassion, and 3) recognizing that rejection does not define your identity. Key Learning Points: The fear of rejectio...
Sep 13, 2024•7 min•Ep. 255
Do you welcome challenges and see them as an opportunity to learn? Or do you rarely adapt your routines and fall into the trap of making the same mistakes? In order to make performance break throughs or simply perform at a more consistent level it’s important to see yourself as a “learner.” To look in the mirror and assess the decisions that you are making. To do so working on your mental game and seeking the support of a well qualified Sport Psychologist can hugely help you. Key Learning Points...
Sep 06, 2024•13 min•Ep. 254
If you were to get up at 4am every morning, never had a day off and dedicated your life to one cause or goal would you be fully effective? David Charlton goes on to discuss how working hard means different things to different people. How overworking can equal poor decision making. He goes on to share the importance of self-care and being proactive about taking breaks to help people maintain perspective. Key Learning Points: Commitment is a big factor in being mentally tough though has its downsi...
Aug 30, 2024•10 min•Ep. 253
David Charlton discusses the psychological impact on professional footballers who are out of contract, a common issue in the summer months. These players face financial and emotional uncertainty, often without support from their former clubs. The loss of identity and routine can lead to a grief cycle, including denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. David emphasises how a Sports Psychologist can help professional footballers in these circumstances setting new goals, processing di...
Aug 23, 2024•10 min•Ep. 252
The Olympics in Paris has recently finished and produced some remarkable performances from many different athletes. Yet for some this Olympics was underwhelming where they may have come away with many “what if” thoughts. In today’s short solo episode I discuss preparation for big events like the Olympics and the importance of a challenge mindset for you to perform well. Key Learning Points: Adopting a threat mindset will ensure that it is much harder for athletes to succeed in big events. A thre...
Aug 16, 2024•8 min•Ep. 251
In today’s episode I welcomed Ruth Chiles and Dr Alessia Bruno back on the show, where they discuss helping individuals achieve their hidden potential. They do by using brainspotting, a powerful approach that works by identifying, processing and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation and a variety of other challenging symptoms. In our conversation we go on to chat about secure early attachment and its impact on brain development, intergenerational ...
Aug 09, 2024•58 min•Ep. 250
Today’s conversation revolves around the challenges of collaboration in coaching in team sports. Where Assistant Professor Dr Edward Hall and I discuss research and practical applications. Points that we touch on include coaches' relationships, preparation and planning in order to foster a culture of trust, loyalty, and accountability. Key Learning Points: Winning is hugely important in a high performance context and is a huge driver when designing training sessions and creating key performance ...
Aug 02, 2024•49 min•Ep. 249
The “yips” is a word that strikes fear into many golfers, cricketers, darts players and many other performers. With the yips, comes huge emotional and physiological responses. Lack of enjoyment, and often thoughts about and decisions to quit your chosen sport or pastime. It doesn’t have to be that way however as Trevor Jones a PGA Professional Golf Coach and Mental Performance Coach and I discuss in this episode. We go on to talk about leaning into your fears, embracing discomfort, Acceptance Co...
Jul 26, 2024•53 min•Ep. 248
In today’s episode, I chat with Tom Jones, the founder of Cricket Coach 365 and the University of Manchester Men’s Cricket First Team Coach. Tom goes on to ask me many questions about mental toughness, the role of the environment, how we can help cricketers play to the best of their ability more often and a whole lot more. By listening to this episode you’ll learn more about how I work as a Sports Psychologist, and my thoughts on how cricket coaches can better support their players. Key Learning...
Jul 19, 2024•56 min•Ep. 247
Emma Raducanu is a great example of someone whose career was on an upward trajectory, after winning the US Open tennis championship in 2021, aged 18 years old. Since then, her career has been dogged with setbacks and challenges. At Wimbledon this year it was nice to see her perform near to her potential reaching the last 16. Without knowing the detail of what has happened in Emma’s world since her big breakthrough I discuss as a Sport Psychologist the types things we may look at to help athletes...
Jul 12, 2024•16 min•Ep. 246
During the Wimbledon tennis tournament this week there will many players who are faced with great opportunities to win matches yet will struggle to close out victory. Future thoughts will fill their head about the draw in the next round or the importance of the next point. Their attention may also flit into the past where they replay key points from other matches that they have played that didn’t go their way. In today’s episode I talk about fear of success, a common challenge not only for tenni...
Jul 05, 2024•11 min•Ep. 245
Currently the European Football Championships are taking place and there has been a lot of talk in the media and with fans about some of England’s footballers playing out of position. With many venting their frustration! In today’s episode I offer my thoughts as a sport psychologist on the challenges of playing out of position as a player, I talk about the relationship with elements of mental toughness such as confidence in ability, interpersonal confidence, risk orientation and emotional contro...
Jun 28, 2024•15 min•Ep. 244
On Sunday June 16th at Pinehurst Golf Course in North Carolina, Rory McIlroy had a great opportunity to win the US Open and break his 10 year major trophy drought. Sadly, it didn’t happen for him and two missed short putts on holes 16 and 18 in the final round cost him the win. Bryson DeChambeau went on to be the victor. In today’s episode I offer my thoughts as a sport psychologist on Rory’s misfortunate and share some ideas on how I would help him win the British Open at Royal Troon in one mon...
Jun 21, 2024•10 min•Ep. 243
We’re now 4 years on since the creation of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast therefore David Charlton the host of the podcast made the decision to go back to basics and share an important message busting a myth that exists, that resilience and mental toughness are the same concepts. Today, we go back to the very start of the podcast, where well respected pioneer in the field, Doug Strycharczyk, shares his insights into the differences between mental toughness and resilience in this BITE-...
Jun 14, 2024•12 min•Ep. 242
In this BITE-SIZED episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, Dr. Bob Winters, an internationally recognised sport psychologist who has supported US Men’s and Women’s Open Golf Champions and many other elite professional athletes across a variety of sports joins me. He goes on to tell me about how champions think and cultivating a limitless mindset by the way that you think. Key Learning Points: How good would you be if you didn’t know how good you could be? How good would you be if y...
Jun 07, 2024•11 min•Ep. 241
Why do athletes work with a Sports Psychologist? One of the biggest reasons is that they struggle to transfer their skills from training to competitive situations. Which provides the topic for today’s episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness podcast. Former professional basketball player and author Dre Baldwin goes on to tell me his thoughts on why athletes can struggle to compete as well as they practice. We also share some useful ideas and strategies to help you. Enjoy tuning in! Key Takea...
May 31, 2024•10 min•Ep. 240
Cricket is a unique sport where despite being a team sport it can also be argued to be an individual sport. One of the biggest challenges is batting and dealing with the aftermath of low scores and the walk of shame. In this BITE-SIZED episode, Tom Jones, a highly qualified youth cricket coach and owner of Cricket Coach 365 and I discuss mental toughness when batting and offer you advice on how to deal with the pressures that you will likely face. Key Learning Points: As a batter the walk to and...
May 24, 2024•11 min•Ep. 239
Penny Mallory was the first woman to drive in the world rally championships. On her way to do so she showed immense commitment to her craft and made lots of sacrifices in pursuit of success. In this bite-sized episode she goes on to share her secrets and the mentality that took her to the top of her sport. Enjoy tuning in! Key Takeaways: Ambition requires personal sacrifices. Taking risks are necessary to achieve your dreams. There is often a price to pay for committing yourself to your craft. I...
May 17, 2024•12 min•Ep. 238
Do you ever believe you are your thoughts? Do you often take your thoughts way too seriously? If so you’ll enjoy today's podcast episode as my guest, Keagen Hadley author of Torn: Overcoming the Psychological Challenges Post-ACL Injury talks about using Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a potentially helpful solution. Specifically we discuss cognitive defusion as a way to help you create distance from your thoughts. Key Learning Points: Cognitive Fusion is concerned with the mess our though...
May 10, 2024•8 min•Ep. 237
In different sports such as golf and cricket, athletes can be placed in situations where they have a lot of thinking time. Too much thinking time for some! Due to their high level of motivation, focus of attention, fatigue, emotions and many other factors this thinking time can create havoc in their minds. As a result, indecision, fear and self-doubt can take over. In today’s episode, Dr James Hegarty, co-author of the book ACT in Sport: Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment shares some ideas o...
May 03, 2024•20 min•Ep. 236
Many athletes, golfers or people in everyday life take their thoughts too seriously. They then get caught up overthinking and it causes havoc with their decision making. In golfing terms, paralysis by analysis can take over, when the pressure is on and the result is often poor shots and missed putts. And lots of frustration! In this episode, Trevor Jones a PGA Professional Golf Coach and Mental Performance Coach and I chat about this topic where he shares as a coach how he uses Acceptance Commit...
Apr 26, 2024•15 min•Ep. 235
How often in sport do you see an athlete make the wrong decision under pressure? Often I’d say! Even at the highest level in elite professional sport. Indecision, overthinking, paralysis by analysis, having too much time to think of the consequences, a lack of trust in skills or fear are often the reasons for poor decision making. In this short bite-sized episode, Paul Phillips an author and culture developer and I discuss overthinking in sport where we share some helpful tips so that you can de...
Apr 19, 2024•13 min•Ep. 234
In the last of this 3 part series created for parents of young adults and kids who play football or soccer I discuss how fear can wreck a youngsters fun and enjoyment on the pitch. Common responses to fear before matches include performance anxiety, physical sickness, feigning injury and refusing to play. It’s a hugely difficult challenge to navigate as a parent therefore I share a tool connected with mindfulness which can help ease the young footballer’s anxieties. Connect with David Charlton S...
Apr 16, 2024•8 min•Ep. 233
What is the most mentally challenging position on the football or soccer pitch? Many people would argue it’s the goalkeeper. Common psychological challenges goalkeepers face include; coping with mistakes and bouncing back strongly, dealing with tough and physical opponents, playing the ball out from the back with their feet in uncomfortable situations, communicating effectively with team-mates, selection issues and dealing with time on the bench. Today, Andy Elleray, an author and goalkeeping co...
Apr 12, 2024•10 min•Ep. 232
In the second of 3 episodes created for parents of young people who play football I carry on the conversation about enjoyment on the football pitch. Where on this occasion I introduce the relationship between enjoyment in football, the impact of playing poorly, performance levels and self-esteem. I go on to discuss what self esteem is, what you could expect from someone with high self-esteem and factors that can contribute to low self-esteem. In addition, I touch on life control and “having a ca...
Apr 09, 2024•10 min•Ep. 231
Today, with my colleague Dr Alessia Bruno we discuss the downsides to perfectionism and how many athletes can get obsessed by their sports, training harder and harder, pushing themselves to the limit. The result can then be burnout, playing in fear or a lack of enjoyment. Enjoy tuning in! Key Learning Points Sport can be seen as a job by perfectionist athletes. When searching to get better, the perfectionist can lose the ability to perform with freedom and trust. Physically the perfectionist ath...
Apr 05, 2024•11 min•Ep. 230
This is the first of 3 episodes created for parents of kids who play football with their enjoyment and the possibility of quitting playing football the topic I discuss today. When thoughts of quitting are considered, it can be very challenging for some parents to navigate as they try to decide the best route to take despite different pressures associated with the decision. Therefore, I share some resources that you can use to better understand why you want your kid to play football and also why ...
Apr 02, 2024•7 min•Ep. 229
A lot of golfers lack confidence and trust in their ability to execute shots and putts and shoot the scores that they are capable of. As a result, they often cause themselves problems by the decisions that they make. Common things I notice are over practicing, reactively practicing, an over reliance on YouTube coaching and a quick fix mentality. On the course they are then guilty of overthinking, complicating the game with too many swing thoughts, trying to control their swing, temper tantrums a...
Mar 29, 2024•12 min•Ep. 228
A football coaches role is multi-faceted from being knowledgeable about tactics and technical aspects of the game to being well versed in their understanding of physical attributes and diet. Psycho-social aspects also form a big part of the role too. Developing, managing and disciplining players whilst trying to get the best out of them, day in day out is far from an easy job. This forms the motivation behind this podcast episode, the last of a 3-part series aimed to support football coaches. Yo...
Mar 26, 2024•7 min•Ep. 227
Fear is evident in every sport and affects athletes and performers differently. From overthinking to strong physiological responses in an athlete’s body. Decision making is then naturally impeded, impacting performance levels. In today’s episode an inspirational Olympian, Dan Steele offers insights into how he dealt with an accident whilst competing in bobsleigh and then managed to head back up the mountain to compete again despite losing control of his thoughts and having serious doubts and fea...
Mar 22, 2024•16 min•Ep. 226
