E135 Dr. Wade Wilson Enhance Mental Performance

Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 135
Date: August 27, 2024

Participants: Sheila Wester, John Webster and Cameron
Guest: Cheryl Rickers (What’s on Your Mind) and Dr. A. Wade Wilson (Interview)

Start Times and Segments:

[0:00:16] What’s On Your Mind: Sheila and Cheryl connect for a month in review for June – Episodes 123 to 126.

[0:14:22] Expanding Minds Interview: [Mental Wellness] We interview Dr. A. Wade Wilson. It's an exciting time in the field of mental performance. There are now Certified Mental Performance Consultants, who receive their designation through associations such as the Canadian Sport Psychology Association. We’re all faced with the three C’s – comparison, criticism and complaining. We all do the these to ourselves, especially comparison and how it plays into our fear of failure. Mental performance refers to engaging our cognitive abilities and skills, which impact how we think, feel and perform in the sports or competitive performance context. The field looks to apply these techniques and skills to enhance our cognitive abilities to improve our probability of success. Examples of practical strategies include self-talk strategies, reframing to find positives in learning situations, managing our energy, breathing techniques, psyching ourselves up, pre-game and pre-performance routines and imagery visualization. Wade suggests that we think of it like a pyramid. Process is the first level. Performance is the next. Outcome is the very small thing at the top. The things we do in our process give us a higher probability of achieving our performance, which in turn gives us a higher probability of achieving the desired outcome. 3.  – Running Popup: John found a blurb about the origin of his last name. Starving Artist: Imagine Cameron’s surprise and amusement when he found a piano with the name “The Cameron” while waiting in a green room to perform. Can you guess whether he played The Cameron?

[0:32:00] Running Popup: John found a blurb about the origin of his last name.

[0:33:30] Adventures of the Starving Artist: Imagine Cameron’s surprise and amusement when he found a piano with the name “The Cameron” while waiting in a green room to perform. Can you guess whether he played The Cameron?

Quotes and Take-Aways:

Wade – We can refer to mental performance as engaging our cognitive abilities and skills, which impact how we think, feel and perform in the sports or competitive performance context. The field looks to apply these techniques and skills to enhance our cognitive abilities to improve our probability of success.

Wade – Examples of practical strategies include self-talk strategies, reframing to find positives in learning situations, managing our energy, breathing techniques, psyching ourselves up, getting ourselves prepped and read to perform, pre-game and pre-performance routines, mental toughness, and imagery visualization. There are a number of strategies we utilize to improve our probability of success.

Wade – We would prefer self-talk to be positive. In general, talking or being kind to ourselves is something we as human beings don’t do enough.

Wade – Much of our self-talk is negative. When we’re under stress, our inner critic or the negative reminders start to bombard us.

Wade – Think of it like a pyramid. Process is the first level. Performance is the next. Outcome is the very small thing at the top. The things I do in my process give me a higher probability of achieving my performance, which in turn gives me a higher probability of achieving the outcome.

Wade – I need to understand in the back of my mind that competitive sports or other competition are usually decided by other people, so performing well is not a 100% guarantee that you will achieve the desired outcome.

Wade – We’re all faced with the three C’s – comparison, criticism and complaining. We all do the these to ourselves, especially the comparison and how it plays into our fear of failure.

Guest Information: Dr. Austin Wade Wilson has a number of degrees, including a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in Recreation and Leisure Studies and a master’s degree from University of Windsor in human kinetics with a focus in Applied Sport Psychology. He’s has a CMPC certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, and close to 20 years of experience in the field of sport psychology and mental performance. Wade is currently working on a digital publication called Mentor Magazine, which he aims to launch by January 2025.

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Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-)   Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila, Elise, Isabelle, Noura, Julie and Riley