“Be positive” – probably one of the most used sayings in performance in any setting. Preparing for a race? “Think positive!” Just lost a race? “Cheer up, be positive!” These phrases reinforce that we should aim to feel and think positively.  We are told, “don’t be scared”, “relax”, “be brave”, “cheer up”, “get over it”, etc. […]

Social research in Asia suggests that our kids are under more pressure than ever, and the negative consequences are very real. A recent prospectus study of Hong Kong schools anxiety revealed that 3 in 10 students in secondary school and 1 in 5 primary school aged children suffer from anxiety. One of the most underestimated […]

To be a formidable competitor as a CrossFit athlete, dedicated physical preparation is a must, but mental preparation ensures you are truly ready to deal with the adversity that CrossFit delivers. For an in depth look into the practice of mental toughness in this extraordinary sport, I met up with 2015’s “Fittest in Singapore” (by […]

Want to gain an extra edge over your competitors?  Want to perform better?  Then you need to get more sleep! Sleep is a powerful and often underestimated tool that can lead to noticeable changes in performance. Unfortunately, as a society we value not sleeping and celebrate those who can do a lot of work on […]

What is it? ‘A Game’ performance mindset is the state of mind you have when you perform at your best. Terms that you may have heard referring to this mindset include ‘bubble’, ‘zone’, ‘ideal performance state’, or even ‘flow’. It’s a set of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that promote you to consistently compete at your […]

Mental blocks are a phenomenon that happen when a performer appears to go blank and forget movements that they have consistently trained and mastered and should know how to complete.  The performer can appear to freeze or may instinctively change the movement they were planning to do.  Performers experiencing a mental block will often state […]

It’s grand final week here in Australia, a great opportunity to see if the best performers throughout the year can complete one last performance in what is an environment unlike anything else they have experienced during the regular season. There are no more second chances and no additional opportunities to redeem themselves the following week. Everyone […]

There are very few movies that truly dive into the depths of an elite performer’s mind.  Whiplash is one such movie. I watched it on the plane coming back from Australia in mid August…twice.  The acting captured me as did the way the characters depicted the ruthless perfectionism that is so frequently an ingredient associated with high […]

“I know sport psychology” said the coach, the trainer, and everyone in between. We all have knowledge, experience, and thus opinions about people and what helps them to perform. There’s no doubt that a top coach intricately understands the psychology of their sport. There are cases when an experienced coach has a stronger knowledge of the […]

We’re spending a great deal of time working with parents in Singapore on how to best support their children in their academic and sport pursuits.  Jay-Lee has been conducting parent forums this year covering topics such as Pressure & Expectations, Performance Anxiety in Sport & Academics, and Raising Healthy High Achievers in Sport & Academics that […]