Becoming HeadStrong

The first episode in a 3 part series on stress, this episode focuses on the "fight" part of stress.

Gossip is inevitable, regardless of how you feel about it. Yet not all gossip is negative. In this episode, you will learn how gossiping can be positive!

"Why me?" is a question many people ask.... yet it often means they see themselves as a victim. This is not conducive to high level performance. In this episode, you will learn how to change this counterproductive question to a more productive mindset.

During stressful times, one of the most effective strategies for managing that stress is showing gratitude. In this episode, you will learn how gratitude changes our bodies and brains as well as a 10-second exercise that you can use to begin fighting your stress and enhancing your mental and physical health.

Using a countdown as a pre-performance routine can be very beneficial for some athletes. In this episode, Dr. Nick Galli discusses this countdown, how to create it, and how to use it for optimal performance.

Regardless of the task given, people respond differently. Some are excited and some are resistant. Those who tend to focus on the task at hand are those who are most successful in the end.

This episode is for all of those athletes and coaches who's seasons have been postponed or canceled due to COVID-19. You will learn that your feelings and emotions are normal as well as steps to take next. 

In this episode, Dr. Galli talks about a list written by Kobe Bryant about his rules for success. In Kobe's list, he talks about the importance of being a good story-teller. You will hear a story in this episode and learn the importance of finding your own path to greatness.

Our job with every client we work with is to work ourselves out of a job. We want our clients to become so mentally tough they don't need us. In this episode, you will learn a quick technique to assure you are living your best each day. 

Perfectionism is prevalent in today's youth, more so than ever before.  This trait can be highly detrimental to performance, yet it can also be used to help facilitate performance. Find out how to use it in a positive way in this episode.

Asking for help can be an incredibly challenging thing to do. Yet, those who are able to ask for help, actually show a strength. We all need help from others. Reach out, and ask for help, and the world can become a better place.

In the US, we love instant gratification. We are drawn to quick fixes. Yet we have to learn to love the plateaus if we truly want to improve.

The acronym SPECIFIC when setting goals is outlined here and discussion involves the ups and downs of setting goals in this way. We promote using the strategy that works best for you.

The physiological difference between feeling nervous and feeling excited is minor. What makes the difference, is your brain's interpretation of how your body is feeling. In the episode, learn to change your nerves into excitement and have a positive expectation!

Most people listen to respond. There are many things happening in life and the easy thing to do is to listen to respond. But this is where miscommunication can occur. This episode encourages you to listen to understand.

This episode is about "getting comfortable being uncomfortable". A phrase often used in mental performance coaching, you will learn what it means and how to do it through this episode.

In this episode, Kristina discusses what she learned regarding misconceptions about confidence from Dr. Keith Henschen, a legend in the field of sport psychology. Some of these may surprise you!

Many athletes make the mistake of trying to prove themselves to others. Change your focus to IMproving at every opportunity and the results will come.

Mental toughness is about feeling your emotions - accept, acknowledge, and move on from your emotions. We don't need to control our emotions, but rather control how we respond to our emotions. This is an active session that will teach you a strategy for working on your emotional control.

Cognitive flexibility means begin able to adapt our thinking depending on the situation. As you know, things never seem to go exactly according to plan. If you have rigid beliefs about how things should go, you are more likely to "get stuck". In this episode you will learn strategies for increasing your cognitive flexibility.

Being "in the zone" is a feeling athletes strive for consistently. It's an amazing feeling where time slows down, complete absorption happens, and peak performance occurs. This episode discusses this phenomenon and gives ideas for how to achieve this feeling more often.

The mental and emotional health benefits of experiencing "blue space" and "green space" cannot be overstated. It is incredibly simple, yet powerful and effective. All you have to do, is get outside!

Gardening is similar to life in that you plant the seeds and cultivate the garden, without knowing for sure what the outcome will be. Much time, attention, and energy is put into gardening without a guarantee of getting a fruitful harvest. How often do you stop working hard because you're not getting the results you want in this moment?

What was your frame of mind GOING IN to your best performance? It was most likely a positive frame of mind.  The frame of mind you are in likely dictates your performance in many situations.

It's difficult to wrap your mind around the idea that the outcome doesn't matter as much as the fact that you gave it your best. Yet, you can only control your effort, and NOT your results.