inside success

A Performance Psychology Blog by Annika McGivern

Mental Performance Coach | MSc Sport and Exercise Psychology

Join me as I take close look at the mental side of performance and explore how what goes on inside our heads impacts our results, experience, progress, and well-being in sport, exercise, and performance.

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13 Irrational Beliefs

Did you know there are 13 irrational beliefs that can hold us back in life and sport? Take a look and see if any of these beliefs could be holding you back.

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Riding Beyond Bias: Navigating the Impact of Cognitive Biases on Equestrian Confidence

Competitive equestrians understand the intricate dance between rider and horse, where confidence plays a pivotal role in achieving success. However, in the pursuit of excellence, riders often encounter cognitive biases that can significantly impact their self-assurance. In this blog, we'll explore the subtle yet powerful ways in which cognitive biases influence equestrian confidence and discuss strategies to overcome these mental hurdles for a more fulfilling riding experience.

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Navigating the Rapids: How the Challenging World of Sport Builds Resilience in Children

Childhood is a time of growth, learning, and exploration, and engaging in sports offers a unique avenue for children to develop not only physical skills but also essential life skills. In the challenging world of sports, children not only discover the joy of movement and competition but also cultivate resilience—a fundamental quality that will serve them well throughout their lives.

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Diving Deep: The Crucial Role of Sport Psychology in Competitive Swimming

Competitive swimming is a sport that demands not only physical prowess but also a strong mental game. The difference between a podium finish and a missed opportunity can often be attributed to an athlete's mental resilience, focus, and psychological well-being. This is where the role of sport psychology becomes paramount in the world of competitive swimming, serving as a catalyst for unlocking an athlete's full potential in the pool.

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I Just Fell off My Horse, Now What?

We all fall off, but do we know what do afterwards to reduce the negative impact, feel okay, and learn something valuable from what happened? Follow these three simple steps to manage your fall mentally and get back to learning.

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Overcoming the Curse of the High-Performer: Comparison

If you’re a high-achiever you’ve likely been using social comparison as a way of trying to motivate yourself for years, possibly with varied or limited success. Learn how to break free of the negative side of constant comparison so that you can refocus on your own story.

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Create a Reward Focus

All goals involve sacrifice and rewards. What we choose to focus on hugely impacts our motivation and commitment. Learn how to create a reward focus!

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How to Bring that New Year’s Buzz with us through 2022

The truth is that the energy and momentum we experience at the start of the year should be, and is, accessible to us every day of year. Can we break the unhelpful cycle we have fallen into as a culture where we only get one chance a year at a fresh start?

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Managing Overwhelm: How to Build Self-Trust

Every day we either build or diminish our trust in ourselves. Our ability to manage distraction, to do what we said we were going to do, and how we measure success at the end of the day all feed into our sense of overwhelm.

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