How does storytelling relate to narrative psychology and mental performance?

Research has shown that storytelling is a powerful way to learn, grow, share experiences, and create our internal/external narratives and identities. Inspiration can have a profound impact on self-growth-related outcomes and alter the way individuals perceive their capabilities. Role models can inspire athletes for their upcoming performances to achieve great feats by increasing their perception of their own potential. It was also found that leaders have the opportunity to invoke a positive experience for upcoming performances through narrative psychology.

Mental skills associated with storytelling include self-talk, visualization/imagery, self-efficacy, coping with adversity, and goal-setting.

What is mental performance?

Mental performance refers to the use of psychological, self-regulatory, or life skills by athletes or performers to optimize their performance, involvement, enjoyment, or personal development in their performance domain. We can train our craft, our body, our mind. To sustain elite performance, athletes cannot leave the mental side up to chance just by grinding/forcing through the physical.

Our mind is a muscle, we have to train/practice and flex it just like any other muscle. The objective of mental training is to assist sports participants or other high performers (military, first responders, artists, doctors, business leaders, etc.) in the development of mental skills to achieve performance, success, and personal well-being. The practice may seem simple at times, but mental skills training is a significant part of our entire operating system. Do simple better. Be uncomfortable. Have fun.

How is that different than mindset or meditation?

There are many related concepts and words that begin with the letter “M”. So, yes, it can be confusing!

Mindset is an active practice and includes the attitudes, beliefs, and assumptions one has.

Mindfulness is a non-judgemental focus of one’s attention on the present moment. It is commonly associated with “flow” or “flow state”.

Meditation is a form of relaxation and thought control. When practicing meditation, you focus your attention on a single thought, sound, or object. Meditation is a practice that can improve mindfulness.

What is the difference between mental performance and mental health?

Clinical mental health works with clients on psychological needs, pre-existing conditions, diagnosis, and treatment (medical). Mental performance coaches work with healthy athletes of any age (or other high performers such as coaches, executives, first responders, military, doctors, etc.) to provide mental skills training to increase performance via a positive psychological model.

Is it just for athletes?

I would argue that we are all athletes. As Bill Bowerman said, “If you have a body, you are an athlete.” However, to answer the question, Spruce Performance coaching is for anyone with a positive attitude, goals to improve, and is down for a good time! High performers can include athletes, business leaders, first responders, military, artists, etc.

Interested in working together?

For any questions or inquiries, please reach out.