Athletes and Mental Health (Guest Appearance on Morris Sussex Sports) w/ Dr. Susan Lorentz & Dr. Jane Esposito
The tables were turned this month when I was a guest on Morris Sussex Sports as a part of their athletes and mental health series in the wake of COVID-19’s impact on sports at every level. In this recording, I share some of the knowledge I gained from interviewing my guests over the past 5+ years. Dr. Jane Esposito and Dr. Susan Lorentz from the Sparta Align Wellness Center join me in this conversation and provide tremendous clinical insights that athletes and non-athletes of all ages can adopt.
Last summer I read David Goggins’ book titled “Can’t Hurt Me” and it changed the way that I look at disappointments. Injuries, getting cut from the team and COVID-19 inevitably lead to disappointment, but as I state in the intro to every one of my podcast episodes “You can’t control what happens to you in life, but you can always control how you respond.” David Goggins states in his book, “Until you experience hardships like abuse and bullying, failures and disappointments, your mind will remain soft and exposed. Life experience, especially negative experiences, help callous the mind. But it’s up to you where that callous lines up. If you choose to see yourself as a victim of circumstance into adulthood, that callous will become resentment that protects you from the unfamiliar. It will make you too cautious and untrusting, and possibly too angry at the world. It will make you fearful of change and hard to reach, but not hard of mind.” Callousing the mind was a mindset David adopted that helped him get through 3 BUD/S hell weeks. Instead of feeling bad for himself every time he experienced a setback, and he had many, he thought about how much easier his next challenge he was faced with would seem in comparison.
I bring up this David Goggin’s quote because my hypothesis as to why so many athletes are struggling with the abundance of change and uncertainties is because they haven’t been faced with enough similar challenges throughout their lives to refer back to, which could help them navigate this new challenge life has thrown their way. I use many examples from my own life in this show, which self admittedly stunted my transition to life after sports from becoming a transformation. Two of my previous interviews that I referenced on this show were Episode 54 with Bill Anthes and Episode 153 with Vince Ruiz.
Specific topics we touch on are as follows:
A new critical take on my own story and experience over the past 13 years after my injury that I hope others can learn from.
The importance of focusing on your “How” vs. What.”
Coaches roles in building a healthy team culture.
Advice for parents of injured athletes.
My challenge to athletes to step into the unknown.
