Having a Physical Disadvantage Meant I Needed A Psychological Advantage
My love for sport begins with the unique hand I was born with, a condition called symbrachydactyly. To imagine what it’s like, try using just your thumb and half of your index finger - that’s what I’m working with.
As an ice-hockey goalie playing against able-bodied competitors, I felt validation and on top of the world when I played well. When I didn’t have a great showing, however, this mindset worked against me as I questioned if I was in over my head, wondering, “do I belong here?”
As a young athlete, not knowing how to properly cope with pressure and fear of failure took a toll on my mental game. I wasn’t having as much fun, and it showed in my performances.
Once I started playing college hockey, the anxiety I felt before games skyrocketed. Fortunately, I was diving into my Master’s degree in sport psychology at the same time. Without this training, my performance would have plummeted.
I know there are countless others who are like how I was: lacking mental performance training and crumbling under pressure.
With me, you’ll develop your own, unique mental game toolkit. We’ll discuss when and how to use mental skills to offset nerves and boost confidence that will work best for you.
