250 Optimising Your Potential By Understanding Your Nervous System Better
Release Date: 08/09/2024
278 How To Help Young Athletes Who Are Distracted By Shouty Coaches Subtitle:
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In today’s episode, #278 David and Gerard discuss the impact of a shouty coach on an 18-year-old rugby player named Tom (pseudonym). They explore how such coaching styles can lead to self-doubt, low self-esteem, and increased self-criticism, affecting both on-field performance and confidence levels. They emphasize the importance of coaches fostering a supportive environment where players can express themselves freely. Key Learning Points: · The conversation highlights the broader issue of youth sports participation and the need...
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277 How To Help An Extra Competitive Footballer
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In episode #277 David and Gerard Fitzgerald discussed how to help shift the focus of an extra competitive footballer or athlete, using the example of a boy named Joe who hates losing. Key points included the importance of harnessing anger positively, as seen with Wayne Rooney's iconic goal in 2005 for Manchester United versus Newcastle United. They also share the need to normalise emotional responses like anger where footballers may kick out, tackle over aggressively, shout at team-mates or display poor body language. Parents and coaches are advised to avoid...
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276 How To Help A Footballer Who Focuses Too Much On Other People
Demystifying Mental Toughness
Today marks the start of an 8-episode series where David Charlton is joined by a colleague. Gerard Fitzgerald features in this episode, as well as the next 3 episodes. They go on to discuss a case study of a young female footballer, 11 years old with a pseudonym name called Carly who is a sensitive soul who worries too much about other people (team-mates specifically in this case). We go on to normalise emotional sensitivity in young athletes, highlighting that it can be a strength if managed properly. We also talk about the challenges of emotional sensitivity where...
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275 Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast – What happens next?
Demystifying Mental Toughness
After a short break from creating and broadcasting episodes of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, in episode #275, David discusses a change in format to the podcast for the rest of 2025. He also highlights the benefits of having a support system and the benefits of reading and acting on advice from The 12 Week Year, book written by Brian F Moran and Michael Lemmington. Key Learning Points: · Taking a break can revive our motivation and creativity similar to the power of periodisation in sport or strength training. ...
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274 How You Can Challenge Yourself To Feel More In Control
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In this week’s episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast #274, we focus in on the control and challenge measures from Professor Peter Clough’s 4C’s model of Mental Toughness. David highlights how US tennis player Danielle Collins' managed fans heckling at the Australian Open to aid her performance. Insightful guests, Sport Psychologists, World Champion Athletes and Olympians also offer tips: where they focus on self-care for perfectionists, emphasise why getting clarity on your "why" is important, stressing present-moment awareness and a lot more. Key...
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273 How To Improve Your Mental Toughness For Team Sports
Demystifying Mental Toughness
The "Demystifying Mental Toughness" podcast episode #273, hosted by David Charlton, features insights from various team sports coaches and athletes, on commitment and confidence. Key points include the importance of individual motivation in team sports, maintaining a balance in life, and the necessity of standing out in training and matches. Guests emphasize the need for authenticity and surrounding oneself with positive influences, as well as many other great points. Key Learning Points: · Prioritize your own performances and...
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272 Sport Coaches: 15 Tips To Help You Become A Better Coach
Demystifying Mental Toughness
Today’s podcast episode #272, focuses on helping coaches develop themselves and improve their relationships with their athletes, in turn, positively influencing performances. Many different guests from the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast emphasize the following points when considering self-improvement: sport coaches should be open-minded, focus on continuous learning and film themselves frequently. In developing their athletes: the importance of high support in coaching, understanding athletes have lives outside of sport, adapting their communication to athletes different...
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271 25 Ways To Improve Your Mental Toughness
Demystifying Mental Toughness
Happy New Year! Why not make 2025 one of your best years to date? To do so if you focus some attention on improving your mental toughness by creating better routines and habits you can give yourself a great chance. In this NEW episode, a number of our excellent guests offer many helpful and inspiring suggestions. Points of note relate to understanding the stories that you tell yourself about certain situations, events and abilities, how to find your passion and purpose, being authentic and true to yourself, considering who you surround yourself with and many more things. Key...
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270 11 Ways To Build Your Mental Fortitude
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In today’s podcast episode #270, many of our fabulous guests share some tips so that you can build your mental fortitude and consistently perform well in 2025. Key points relate to rest, recovery and well-being where they identify; managing fatigue, nasal breathing, the importance of rest days, nutrition, hydration, cold water and much more to ensure you attack the new year. If you’re looking to get into good habits and maintain optimal well-being and performance this podcast episode is a must to listen to. Key Learning Points: ...
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269 Do You Want to Make Next Year a Great Year? Why Contact A Sport Psychologist!
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In episode #269 David addresses the question, “What Can I Expect When Working With A Sport Psychologist” for the final time as this episode marks the end of an 8 part series. This time he focuses on the following statements “Performance Enhancement: The sports psychologist will help you identify and overcome mental barriers that may be hindering your performance” and “Feedback and Reflection: Expect regular discussions about your progress, experiences in training or competition, and adjustments to your mental training plan.” David highlights that a high percentage of...
info_outlineIn 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 transmission of traits and how it relates to performance issues, emotional regulation is widely talked about too and how you can incorporate awareness of your nervous system through focused exercises and routines. The challenges of pressure and perfectionism with athletes and performers were touched on too, with a focus on the importance of trust, creativity, and joy in what we choose to take part in.
Key Learning Points
- Parents' emotional regulation impacts children's brain development.
- Parents' legacy of trauma is passed down to child through their nervous system.
- Attachment and attunement are crucial for performance, as underlying issues can impact current trauma and developmental trauma.
- Child's brain development is discussed, including prefrontal cortex and autonomic nervous system.
- Coaches can help athletes by teaching them techniques to be present in their body during training and competitive events.
- Coaches should prioritize supporting and developing individuals, not just focusing on the performer or athlete.
Connect with Alessia Bruno and Ruth Chiles
Connect with David Charlton
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Relevant Podcast Episodes To Help You Optimise Your Potential
Ep012: 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
Ep142: Alessia Bruno – Is Striving for Perfection a Good Thing in Gymnastics?
Ep156: Ruth Chiles – There is Hope: How to Overcome Focal Dystonia
Ep170: David Charlton - How To Help Perfectionists With Their Mental Approach
Relevant Blogs To Help You Reach Your Potential
Blog: Helping a Critical Child When You’re a Parent
Blog: How to Support an Angry Young Athlete
Why You Should Meditate To Improve Your Sport Performance?