Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC

Coaching people on how to use their mind to their advantage through sport psychology concepts and techniques.

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

@LouStagner Best mental tips for golfers?

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

@LouStagner What would you recommend he do mentally in these situations to help?

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

Anyone considering an MA in Sport and Performance Psych, check out this program.

I may be biased - I teach there - but it really is a great program!

[DUC, Sport & Performance Psychology @Dominican_ASPP]

Great news this morning! The deadline to apply to the MA and Certificate in ASPP has been extended to August 9th. Potential students still have 10 days to apply to be part of the historic first incoming class at DUC. For more information on how to apply, click the link in bio.

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

@adamyounggolf If you’re interested in some of the actual research articles I’m happy to email them to you. I think there’s many paths to success, so this certainly isn’t the end all be all - I respect your research fully!

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

@adamyounggolf A lot of research out there that says no practice swing is best. Just visualize the hole and keep your mind’s eye on the target.

[Billy Oppenheimer @bpoppenheimer]

On May 2, 1972, Bruce Springsteen auditioned for the record producer John Hammond.

Hammond had signed icons like Bob Dylan and Aretha Franklin—two of Springsteen’s heroes.

“I would’ve been in a state of complete panic," Springsteen said, "except on the way up in the elevator,

I performed a little mental jiu-jitsu on myself.”

“I thought, ‘I’ve got nothing, so I’ve got nothing to lose...If nothing happens, I'm going to walk out of here the same person as when I walked in.’”

With this mindset, Springsteen said, instead of panicking, he walked into the audition feeling confident.

He performed his song, “It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City.”

“When I was done I looked up,” Springsteen writes, “and I heard him say, ‘You’ve got to be on Columbia Records…That was wonderful.’”

Springsteen signed a ten-album deal and would go on to record with Hammond and Columbia Records for the next fifty years.

Takeaway 1:

What Springsteen called “mental jiu-jitsu” is known in psychology as “cognitive reframing."

Whether it's public speaking, a big game, or a potentially life-changing audition, it can be helpful to reframe the situation as something that isn't actually *that* important.

Another one of my favorite examples of this is the way the snowboarder Shaun White would reframe an Olympic half-pipe run. Right before dropping in, White said,

“I say to myself, ‘Who cares?’ At the end of the day, who cares? What’s the big deal? I’m here, I’m going to try my best, and who cares? I’m going to go on from this regardless of what happens.'"

Takeaway 2:

Four months after the audition, John Hammond was interviewed by the magazine, “Record World," and he was asked, "What are you doing now?"

"Well," Hammond said, "I latched onto a young folksinger a few months ago who I just think is going to be absolutely a giant. He’s Bruce Springsteen...He’s one of the greatest talents I’ve ever come across.”

While Hammond could see, after just one song, that Springsteen was a generational talent, Springsteen himself was full of self-doubt.

It made me think of Bill Russell, one of the greatest basketball talents ever.

Once in an interview (well into his NBA career), Russell made a comment that he never got any positive feedback from his college coach.

The coach heard the comment and wrote to Russell, saying that Russell had so much talent he didn't need positive feedback.

"The hell I didn't," Russell said. "[Everyone] wants to be told they are doing a good job...It never hurts to say a good word."

- - -

“Sometimes it takes another person to believe in us." — Steven Pressfield

Follow @bpoppenheimer for more content like this!

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

@PGATOUR @BillyHo_Golf @MemorialGolf @BillyHo_Golf thank you for your vulnerability and for normalizing that to struggle is to be human - even if you are a professional athlete. There’s no doubt you will find it again soon. 🙏

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

@ddetts I got you on the mental side

[Dr. Mitch Abrams @MitchAbramsPsyD]

Before anyone gets it confused, a psychologist does not lose their right to report a crime against them bc they are a therapist. #HillaryCauthen reported her concerns to the team who had a responsibility to protect her. This has only progressed bc of #NoAccountability

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

@BStulberg Any thoughts on how to access the joy along the way?

[Danny Ourian @dannyhoops]

Sometimes tough love isn’t it! Often times. How can we as a sporting culture help normalize support, loving people up, instead of constantly pointing to the idea of mental toughness as the only path?

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

Can someone explain to me why ex or current pro athletes refer to the league they play(ed) in as “our league”.

“He’s one of the top players in our league.”

It bothers me for some reason and trying to figure out why. Maybe it seems pretentious or elitist?

Thoughts?

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

Effective practice is as mentally taxing as it is physically taxing.

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

While intuitively I get this and have experienced this, I’m struggling to find the takeaway. Who can help me out?

[Steve Magness @stevemagness]

On June 27th, Jim Ryun ran a mile in 4:07. In his log he wrote "was hard"

The next day, he ran a mile in 3:51.1, closing in 53.5.
In his log he wrote "Felt very easy"

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

Too often we’re told to “focus” or “relax” or “be aggressive”. Well, what do those words really mean and how do we do it? This explanation leaves no room for doubt. Love it.

[Ray Boyne @AnalysisGaa]

What is Focus?
The bridge between explanation and application

Explanation ⛩ Application

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

Empty range and a bucket of balls

[Michael Fulwiler @MichaelFulwiler]

What feels like therapy to you that isn't therapy?

[Brad Stulberg @BStulberg]

What wellness is marketed as:
-Body lotions
-Supplements
-Fancy juices
-Candles
-Crystals

What wellness ACTUALLY looks like:
-Health care coverage
-Access to therapy
-Walkable cities
-Green spaces
-Living wages
-Paid time off
-Physical activity
-Close knit communities
-Sleep

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

Umm how about every round?

[Tommy Fleetwood @TommyFleetwood1]

Ever have one of those rounds of golf when you’re so frustrated at this stupid game for not giving you what you deserve? Then, just when you're about to lose it, you hit THE shot that makes you realise why you're so hopelessly in love with it! #themasters

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

@BrianLevenson Interesting!

If personality is dependent on the environment how does one show up as their authentic self? Could it be that we’re just conforming to social norms, while our personality stays constant?

[Drew Morgan, MA Sport Psychology | CMPC @mentalcoachmorg]

Client today said “I just need to let myself suck.”

I love that for so many reasons.