Psychological Flexibility

Hi Everyone, thanks for checking out this week’s newsletter. Below you'll find:

• Performance Concept of the week

  • Psychological Flexibility: The #1 Skill Competitive Athletes Need to Make it in Today's High Performance Sports

• Action plan

• Resource of the week

• Things to Explore

• Got Questions?

Performance Concept of the Week

Psychological Flexibility: The #1 Skill Competitive Athletes Need to Make it in Today's High Performance Sports 

In competitive and high performance sports the mental game is often what separates good athletes from great ones. Success demands athletes use their physical skills, but also the ability to adapt to challenges, stay present under pressure, and align their actions with values.

This is where psychological flexibility comes in - it is the single most important skill needed in high performance sports today!

As a parent of a competitive or high performance athletes, understanding this concepts can help you support your athlete on their athletic journey.

What Is Psychological Flexibility?

Psychological flexibility is the ability to adapt thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to meet challenges while staying true to one’s values and goals. It is the mechanism to build mental toughness, or mental agility.

It’s not about avoiding discomfort or “toughing it out” but about navigating adversity with resilience and focus.

Research shows that psychological flexibility is a key predictor of mental health and well-being (Kashdan, & Rottenberg, 201). Athletes who develop this skill are better equipped to manage stress, overcome setbacks, and maintain consistency in performance.

Three core skills of psychological flexibility include:

• Being Open - Being aware of your thoughts, emotions, behaviors without trying to change them. Instead accept them and use them to your advantage with strong emotional regulation.

• Being Aware - Notice what’s going on internally and externally (internal/external states) while staying connected to the game.

• Being Engaged - Staying engaged during challenging moments by anchoring decision making in one’s core values. Lean on core values when doing hard things!

Parenting and Psychological Flexibility

As a parent you never want to see your child fail no matter what age, activity, or endeavour they are in.

This is where many get it wrong!

Check out the video below from legendary South Carolina Women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley on failure.

The key message - Get comfortable with the uncomfortable and you’ll find this through failure. You want to get to the next level, you’re going to fail!

Why It Matters for Mental Performance and Mental Health

Competitive sports are filled with highs and lows—victories, defeats, pressure to perform, and the ever-present risk of burnout. Psychological flexibility helps athletes:

• Handle Setbacks: By accepting challenges rather than fighting them, athletes can focus on what they can control.

• Stay Present: A missed shot or bad play doesn’t derail them; they remain focused on the next moment.

• Align with Values: Athletes grounded in their “why” (e.g., love for the game, teamwork) are more resilient against external pressures.

Mental health also benefits. Athletes with higher psychological flexibility report lower levels of anxiety and depression, better stress management, and greater life satisfaction.

How Parents Can Support Psychological Flexibility

As a parent, you play a vital role in fostering this skill. Here’s how you can help:

1. Emphasize Process Over Outcomes

• Praise effort, adaptability, and growth. Avoid any type of focus on wins, statistics, or performance metrics.

• Example: After a game, ask, “What did you learn today?” rather than “Did you win?”

2. Normalize Challenges

• Remind (and in some cases teach) your athlete that setbacks are part of growth. Share stories of athletes who overcame adversity (e.g., Michael Jordan’s famous quote: “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”).

• Reinforce that discomfort and mistakes are opportunities to learn.

3. Encourage Mindfulness

• Introduce simple mindfulness exercises to help your athlete to stay present. This could be as simple as taking three deep breaths before a game or visualizing success.

4. Help Define Core Values

• Ask your athlete about what they love about their sport? Is it the thrill of competition? The camaraderie? The personal challenge?

• Values provide a mental anchor during tough moments.

5. Model Psychological Flexibility

• Show adaptability in your own life. For example, when plans change, approach the situation with acceptance and problem-solving.

Action Plan

This week, sit down with your athlete to discuss their core values as an athlete and person. Ask:

• What do you love about your sport?

• What do you want to be known for as a teammate or competitor?

• How do these values help you in tough moments?

• Who are you, and what do you stand for?

Taking the Next Step: Support for Your Athlete

Psychological flexibility is a powerful skill that can help athletes navigate the challenges of competition and thrive both on and off the field. However, building these skills often requires guidance and support. If you’re looking for a way to help your athlete enhance their mental performance, emotional regulation, and resilience, consider exploring our Integrated Performance Therapy (IPT) programming and services.

Book a free 20 minute introductory call to learn more about how IPT can empower your athlete and unlock their potential. Together, we can build the tools they need to excel in both sport and life.

Resource of the Week

This week’s resource is a great Netflix series titled “The Mind Explained” that explores psychological concepts including mindfulness, and emotional regulation which are essential components of psychological flexibility.

Things to Explore

• Read: Our Reading Library

• Download: Resource Guide Series

• View: Previous Weekly Performance Concepts

Got Questions?

Do you have a question, or want to know more about a topic. Let our team of experts help you. Ask your question here by clicking the button below. We will post answers to questions within future newsletters.

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