In this podcast episode, Dr. Janelle MacAulay discusses the benefits of the "mindful minute" for enhancing focus and transitioning between activities. She emphasizes the importance of integrating mindfulness into daily routines, differentiates between mind wandering and daydreaming, and offers techniques for building confidence through self-talk and mantras. Dr. MacAulay advises parents on balancing freedom and protection for their children, highlights the value of open conversations about stress, and underscores that high performance is about continuous improvement and personal growth. She also discusses the power of visualization and mental rehearsal for goal-setting and mental preparation, advocating for a cultural shift to recognize the importance of mental skills training, especially in high-performance fields.

Links

TedX Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EETDwk0_ErQ

Dr. Jannell MacAulay Website: https://jannellmacaulay.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jannell-macaulay-phd-a187261

Reflecting Back Insta: https://www.instagram.com/reflectingbackpod/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Mindful Minute

06:33 Evolution of Mindfulness Practice

11:46 Implementing Mindfulness in Daily Life

23:25 Confidence and Taking Control

29:39 Fostering Children's Growth

33:13 Balancing Challenges and Protection for Children's Growth

35:07 The Importance of Open Conversations about Stressors and Challenges

36:56 Defining High Performance as Continuous Improvement

38:55 The Value of Struggle and Overcoming Difficult Moments

48:12 Planning for Negative Outcomes and Focusing on Action

52:27 The Power of Visualization and Imagery in Goal Setting and Building Hope

58:03 The Power of Visualization and Mental Reps

01:00:12 Engaging the Senses in Visualization

01:04:07 Mental Skills as Hard Skills for High Performance

01:07:41 Overcoming the Stigma Around Mental Skills

01:12:32 Integrating Mindfulness and Mental Pushups in the Workplace

01:16:34 Training the Mind for Work-Life Balance