Insight

Success is a concept with a variety of definitions for people depending on what they are trying to achieve at a given point in their lives. Success is not something that can be easily defined because it means something different to every person who aspires towards it. For some, success is about outcomes. How much […]

Perfectionism has been placed under the researcher’s microscope in recent years to determine whether this complex personality trait has a positive or negative influence on performance and well-being. Some of the most controversial examples of perfectionistic individuals can be found in the world of elite sport. When Tiger Woods won his first Major at Augusta […]

Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year. Christmas carols, catching up with family and friends, and lots of yummy food all contribute to the wonderful festivities! Unfortunately, it is often a time when good habits disappear out the window and the realisation of unkept past New Year’s resolutions create the onset of […]

The Mental Notes team is often trying to develop new and better ways of helping our clients achieve their sporting goals. This is a good thing as it means that we are constantly looking to improve our performance as sport and performance psychologists in the same way that our athletes are looking to improve their […]

Participating in sport can be a rewarding experience no matter what your age.  Sport can develop character, resilience, social skills, respect, independence, cooperation, a sense of belonging, and a sense of competency and mastery of skills.  Above all, sport can be a major source of self-esteem, which is defined as an individuals feeling of self-worth […]

There is nothing quite like attending a major sporting event, but when it is your favourite sport, it’s bliss! I recently spent some time at the 2012 US Open Tennis Championships and there were a couple of consistent behaviour patterns that were observed while thoroughly enjoying a New York summer’s day. My observations are far […]

After two action-packed weeks, we are getting some sleep again and are able to get things back on track after spending these two, bleary-eyed weeks watching the best-of-the-best compete at the highest level.  What comes now is an opportunity for us to learn from ‘the greatest show on earth’. The London 2012 Olympic Games had […]

Seven Days in Utopia by David L. Cook is a book written about golf for all levels of golfer however there is no doubt that sportsmen and women from a variety of sports and ability levels would appreciate some of the key messages of the book. It is a fictitious story of a professional golfer […]

Elite sportspeople are often seen as role models. They demonstrate physical strength, determination, resilience, talent, and hard work. They are successful in what they do. There is a stereotype that sportspeople are ‘squeaky-clean’. Quite often the media and the public image of elite sportspeople projects that they are perfect and that there is nothing ‘wrong’ […]

One the many upsides of participating in sport is that sport provides a great training ground for life. Sport involves fun and hard work, success and disappointment, as well as joy and sadness. Understanding how to be successful in sport sets anyone up to be more successful in life. Whilst being successful in sport requires […]