Today’s episode features sports psychologist, Simon Capon.  Simon is a hypnotherapist, Master NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) practitioner, as well as the author of the book “It’s Time to Start Winning.” Since 2006 Simon has worked with professional athletes, using variety of techniques including skills from NLP and hypnotherapy.  He has inspired athletes, footballers and numerous others to achieve national, international and world titles. Simon’s philosophy is simple, create self-belief and your behaviors and actions will change and so will your results.  Simon previously appeared on episode #198 of the podcast, speaking particularly on the link between body language and mental state in athletics, as well as managing the emotional brain for performance.

As Logan Christopher puts it, we are always “mentally training” whether we think we are or not.  If we do nothing dedicated to improving the processes and habits related to managing the mind well, we will simply revert to the default programming.  By focusing on the role of the mind, we can improve our motivation, consistency, clutch performance, physical abilities, as well as find a greater sense of purpose and enjoyment in each training session.

In this show, Simon speaks at length on methods to stay in the present moment, how to use particular strategies to engage the sensory systems of the body, turn of the judging mind, and get into FLOW states.  He discusses the role of visual focus (peripheral vs. narrow) in sport, linking higher purposes and emotions into our movement/training, as well as a “process oriented” approach to goal setting.

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Timestamps and Main Points

4:45 – Why spending time on a cell-phone between training sets takes one out of the present moment, and what to focus on between sets instead

13:15 – The link between modern lifestyle technology use, dopamine addiction, and the negative brain chemistry momentum generated by continually checking one’s phone

16:45 – Principles that lead to the “unconscious” flow state in sport performance

19:45 – Strategies on how to get into the FLOW state in sport

25:45 – The “Know-Nothing” state and how to use one’s senses to get into FLOW states

31:45 – How one’s visual field adjustments factor into one’s sport skill performance

35:45 – Principles of non-attachment and over-trying in sport

38:45 – “Chunking” a long and demanding task into smaller parts to improve mental focus and resilience

45:45 – Digging into purpose and higher emotions in the course of difficult training sessions

61:00 – Balancing process vs. outcome goals

“Wherever you are, be there…. (if you are on your phone) we aren’t really present in the gym”

“Energy flows where focus goes… wherever you are, put your heart and soul into it”

“It’s not just about the gym, it’s in other areas of your life as well”

“(In an athletic flow state) There’s no internal dialogue, there’s no judgements, there’s no thoughts”

“We can’t always keep (the critical inner voice) quiet, but we can keep it occupied”

“(Widening your field of vision, noticing your breathing, using all of your senses with your internal and external environment) allows you to play your sport freely…… it comes from a technique called the “know-nothing state””

“Mental focus follows visual focus”

“Every time you go to the table, your job is to execute the strategy (not to “win the game”), it’s to be at your best, and if you are at your best, winning the tournament will most certainly happen”

“Purpose is one of those things that we often under-estimate”

“We all have an ego, but when you can channel it so it has a contribution to othe...