Mindfulness is significantly connected to performance. It is highly needed by our female athletes, any kind of athletes, and for the moms or the people who support the athlete’s journey.
“The true practice of mindfulness is being present with non-judgments”
That is one of the insights of our guest for today, Katie Cheadle. Katie has been a highly competitive softball player and a therapist with a masters degree in clinical psychology with an emphasis on mindfulness and performance. She primarily works with high performing professionals and athletes. Today, she’s going to share with us her top mindfulness tips for our daughters' better performance. Let’s dive in!
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is being present. It’s noticing what thoughts might be coming up to you right now. What emotions might you be experiencing? What physical sensations do you have at the moment? And then practicing non-judgment around it.
Sometimes, whenever we feel and realize we’re thinking of something that feels wrong, we judge ourselves. We start to prompt ourselves that we shouldn’t think in that certain way.
But the true practice of mindfulness is being present with non-judgment. It is accepting that we feel tired, disappointed, etc., without judging or condemning ourselves.
As parents, we can be so reactive whenever something out of the ordinary happens, or when problems arise. Mindfulness is so beautiful for parents to practice because it allows you to slow down and operate differently. And whenever something makes you remember things you struggled with in the past, mindfulness helps you to bounce back and be in the present.
One of the best pieces of advice for sports parents is to be mindful and curious about their child’s athlete experience. Ask questions, and don't jump to conclusions. Allow your athlete to kind of understand what's going on.
Mindfulness when it comes to parenting and supporting your athlete is the key because it allows you to respond versus react.
Better performance is a result of being mindful. You can help shape the environment for your female athlete by being mindful of how you react, what you say, and what you show up for. Practice acknowledging what’s in the present moment without judgment first. You can also help your athlete practice mindful grind through breathing exercises.
Providing your athlete the opportunity to grow, be mindful, and take care of their mental health would help them a long way not just in their sports career, but also in life.
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