Key Points: 1. Most of the angst people feel about their appearance and physical capabilities is mostly due to not feeling in control of where they want to be. 2. To develop this sense of control, it’s vital to master two of what I consider the main three nutritional skills. 3. These skills are: eating … Read more
Key Points: 1. We often overvalue the concrete at the expense of the abstract. 2. However, none of us would likely enjoy living in a world where the value of everything was concrete and definable. 3. Meditation can help us remember this. Estimated reading time: 4-8 minutes The last few weeks’ pieces have focused heavily … Read more
Key Points: 1. Identities and fixed mindsets go hand in hand. 2. We often unintentionally create identities for others, or let them do the same to us. 3. “Sometimes” is the secret exit door from this trap. Estimated reading time: 6-12 minutes About six months ago, I wrote a piece on one of my favorite … Read more
Key Points: 1. Our beliefs about ourselves inevitably become warped, for better or worse. 2. Our perception of how we look is especially susceptible to this. 3. Comparison and seeking external validation are, at best, a temporary fix. Estimated reading time: 5-10 minutes Well, the last couple of weeks were certainly a hard pivot away … Read more
Key Points: 1. When it comes to training, people have a particularly difficult time accepting that “less is more.” 2. This is partially because a belief that more is always better is hammered into us from a young age. 3. But, when we never decide what “enough” means, we put ourselves at increased risk of … Read more
Key Points: 1. Most athletes, from the professionals to the weekend warriors, are physically unprepared for the demands of their sport. 2. That might sound like a bold claim, but injury data supports it. 3. The truth is, most athletes are overtrained and under-recovered. It’s become a competitive advantage to take time off and actually … Read more
Key Points: 1. When we engage in competition, we’re primarily motivated either to achieve success or to avoid failure. 2. There’s a continuum that describes this in more detail. It helps explain why we do well in certain situations, but not in others. 3. Sports are full of identity traps, but we’re never taught what … Read more
Key Points: 1. Most people’s shoes and running form contribute massively to foot problems. 2. The answer is NOT orthotics and more cushioned shoes. 3. One step that’s absolutely vital is to train your feet, just like you would any other muscle group. Estimated reading time: 4-8 minutes Sometimes I’m struck by the absurdities of … Read more
Key Points: 1. Sports primarily measure skill, athleticism, and strategy. 2. The amount of each varies dramatically from sport to sport. 3. Differences in opinion about which of these three categories is most valuable (and identities built around that) often account for the surprisingly heated discussions about which sport or athlete is “best.” Estimated reading … Read more
Key Points: 1. We should respect the potential commitment and consequences of any activity we undertake. 2. When we do so, we often find that our limits are much further away than we would have believed. 3. To illustrate this, I interviewed my friend Will about his experiences in running his first marathon. Under 3:20! … Read more