Posts by John Gassaway, PsyD
Olympic Preparation Series: Athletes’ Routines
Athletes who can sustain a routine even at the top of all competition will remain consistent, confident, and prepared.
Read MoreOlympic Preparation Series: Coaches’ Corner
Athlete’s can read the attitude and approach of their coaches. Coaches can stick to their success and remain true to their methods even on the biggest stage.
Read MoreAutomatic Mental Skills
Practicing mental skills consistently will make them more effective and automatic.
Read MoreThe Slow Learner’s Advantage
Slow learners can solidify foundations and breakthrough plateaus as a result of their dedicated efforts.
Read MoreManaging Fear of Reinjury
Almost every athlete, at some time in their career, will face the fear of reinjury after initiating a return from injury. Injury is difficult to manage in the first place: physically, psychologically, socially, emotionally, and in terms of planning, scheduling, and living day-to-day. Then, upon returning from injury, a new set of fears may interrupt…
Read MoreJudging Yourself During Disappointments
Judging yourself is almost constant. We might do it every time we look in the mirror: judging and analyzing ourselves, asking if we have done what we set out to do, questioning ourselves. Sometimes it is just surface level: how do I look? Sometimes it is present and immediate: your eyes look tired and you…
Read MoreHow Do You Rewire Your Brain for Optimization
We are constantly having thoughts and pondering throughout every hour of every day, and with all of this chatter, we need to ask “how do you rewire your brain for optimization?” Our brain and thoughts, specifically consistent patterns of thoughts, are difficult to change and habituate. Similar to the adage “You can’t teach an old…
Read MoreNew Wonder Treatment
There is a new “wonder” treatment for many life stressors (including psychological distress/disorders) evolving that appears to break through some of the more unfortunate side effects seen with many of the older treatments. Just a quick look at some of the undesirable impacts that traditional treatments may have on your life may turn some away…
Read MoreCreating an Advanced Mindset (Part 2)
After you have given yourself the opportunity to create an advanced mindset, it is time to further develop that mindset. You began by understanding that difficulty and challenge can still be exciting and fun. Then you started to treat effort as a behavior that helps you progress forward with your performance (measuring and observing changes…
Read MoreCreating an Advanced Mindset (Part 1)
Optimizing your performance or your life requires a lot of dedication and time. One of the first priorities in doing so is to create an advanced mindset. The mindset of successful, happy, satisfied, and accomplished people is one that accepts challenges and shortcoming along with enjoyment and progress. Dr. Carol Dweck first identified such a…
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