The least exciting, the simplest, yet the hardest…and most effective tool to be present and ignite peak performance.  Meditation caught fire in the sports world this past fall when University of Michigan Quarterback J.J. McCarthy was noticed practicing the mindfulness tool beneath the goal posts prior to Wolverine football games.  Quoted in the Wall Street Journal about how he meditates each day to find focus and be in the present, McCarthy’s story shines light on a tool that is often overlooked and underutilized by athletes.  Athletes know that peak performance comes from being in the present and meditation is perhaps the greatest way to achieve that. 

A Glass Lake Amidst a Storm 

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Setting goals for healthy habits in the New Year is one thing, sticking to them is an entirely different ball game. Whether it be getting more exercise, eating better, or trying something new to live a more purposeful life, we've all set out for goals that haven't come to fruition because, well...we stopped doing what was needed to achieve them. The buck stops in 2023. Here's what our team of sport psychologists had to say about how to maintain those goals and habits that you know will help you reach the best version of yourself. Stay Socially Accountable Having an ally in your corner of the ring is a game-changer when it comes to staying true to your goals. When trying to establish new healthy habits, one of the best strategies is to come up with ways to stay "socially accountable." That might be reaching out to a friend to go to the gym with you at a certain time of the day, or telling your partner/spouse you'll make dinner over the weekend. When we commit to ...

Why do we get involved in sport? It’s a question that often is blanketed by busy seasons, grueling road trips, late night practices, and a concentrated, yet often crippling focus on results and winning.  Winning creates a sense of accomplishment, results can lead to opportunities, and intense training can lead to the next generation of talent.  Those are all great, yet are belittled in value if standing alone without a key crux of athletics.  Sport ought to be fun. It ought to bring joy into one’s life.  Joy doesn’t necessarily equate to things always being easy according to Premier’s  Dr. Chrissy Holm Haider. More so, it serves as a beacon towards fulfillment as a...

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