Persevering Through Obstacles With Dr. Eddie O'Connor Blossom Your Awesome

Persevering Through Obstacles With Dr. Eddie O'Connor Blossom Your Awesome

Dr. Eddie O'Connor is the go-to expert in peak performance. As a professional speaker and clinical sport psychologist, he's on a mission to help people break through barriers and reach their highest potential.

A sought-after authority in his field, Dr. Eddie is a Fellow and Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, and he's a proud member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Sport Psychology and Mental Health Registry.

On This Episode

Dr. Eddie O'Connor, a certified mental performance consultant, discusses his journey into sports psychology and the importance of the mind in peak performance. He emphasizes the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions, and the need to unify the mind and body. Dr. O'Connor provides practical guidance on how to shift focus and handle anxiety, suggesting strategies such as focusing on what's important now and treating anxiety like a fire alarm. He also explores the concept of insecurity and the importance of acknowledging and nurturing those sensitive parts of ourselves. Dr. Eddie O'Connor discusses the role of negative thinking and the importance of context in determining its impact. 

Takeaways

• Sports and peak performance are highly influenced by the mind.
• The mind and body are interconnected, and thoughts and feelings impact physical reactions.
• Anxiety can be managed by leaning into it, focusing on what's important now, and treating it like a fire alarm.
• Insecurity is a common experience, and it's important to acknowledge and have empathy for those sensitive parts of ourselves. Negative thinking can be helpful or harmful depending on the context.
• Overcoming obstacles and embracing adversity are essential for achieving excellence.
• Acknowledging and addressing barriers is more effective than avoiding or overcompensating for them.
• Embracing and working with all emotions, including the unpleasant ones, is important for performance and personal growth.
• Practical tips for peak performance include staying present, clarifying values, and practicing psychological flexibility.
• Embracing emotions is a courageous and beneficial choice for men.

Sound Bites

• "So much of sports is mental."
• "It's not the body or the mind that's leading. It's the body is kind of is following. It's just there in unison."
• "Lean into your anxiety and it'll tell you something that you could do to either prepare more."
• "Is negative thinking good or bad, right or wrong? It doesn't matter. It depends on the context."
• "If you really want to excel, it's about leaning in and finding out what are the barriers that you have and finding a way not around them, not to get rid of them, through them, with them and bringing them on your journey."
• "75% of what it means to be human sucks. You mean 75% of the emotions I could feel as a human being living on this earth are unpleasant, sad, mad, and scared."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Dr. Eddie O'Connor's Backstory

06:52
Managing Anxiety: Focus on What's Important Now

29:04
Practical Tips for Peak Performance

40:06
Embracing Emotions: A Message for Men

To learn more about Dr. Eddie click or sign up for his free training click here.

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