How Athletes Can Effectively Manage Uncertainty — Insights from Mental Skills Coach Shaun Goodsell

In the world of sports, uncertainty is a given. Whether it’s the unpredictability of an opponent’s game plan, the possibility of injury, or the looming unknowns of season performance, uncertainty can cast a long shadow over even the most confident athlete. As a Mental Skills Coach, I have spent years guiding athletes on how to navigate this challenge. My approach emphasizes cultivating mental resilience, staying grounded in controllable factors, and using uncertainty as a tool for growth rather than fear.

1. Accepting Uncertainty as a Constant

Athletes often face resistance to uncertainty because it brings discomfort and, sometimes, fear. I advise athletes to shift their mindset to accept uncertainty as an inherent part of competition and life. When athletes embrace uncertainty as normal, they reduce the urge to control every aspect of performance, which can lead to...

Today, on the Hockey Journey Podcast we have a truly inspiring guest, Kelsey King, a former Division I hockey player turned Mental Performance Coach. Kelsey knows firsthand the challenges student athletes face on and off the ice—having played five years of college hockey, set records at Minnesota State, won a National Championship at Ohio State, and represented the USA Women's National Team. But it's her personal journey through struggles with confidence, mental health, and identity that sets her apart. Kelsey now uses these experiences to empower hockey players and athletes to break through their limitations, sharing powerful strategies for mental toughness and personal growth. One of the most enjoyable episode's I've ever recorded. Inspiring journey, lot's of learning nuggets and to top it off, she's an amazing human being. I know you're going to love this one :) Thanks for stopping by and enjoy this diamond in the rough episode!!

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Mental Skills: Unlocking Peak Performance through Shaun Goodsell’s Approach

In the world of competitive sports, athletes constantly search for ways to improve their physical skills, push their limits, and achieve peak performance. Yet, often, the invisible, internal battle taking place within the mind is the deciding factor between success and failure. I am Shaun Goodsell, a highly respected mental performance coach, and I have dedicated my career to helping athletes sharpen their mental skills, emphasizing the importance of emotional resilience, mental focus, and self-mastery in unlocking their true potential.

My approach is rooted in the belief that success in any sport is not merely the result of physical ability, but a product of the mind’s power to influence outcomes. Let’s explore the key themes that athletes can adopt to strengthen their mental game and thrive under pressure.

1. Emotional Resilience: Turning Setbacks into Growth

One of the...

The Creative Athlete creates bridges to success and finds ways to play a productive role.

Rigid vs. Flexible Thinking

Flexible thinking leads to empowered actions.

As I shared in past writings, gaining an edge on the competition can take on many points of focus. One can improve their strength, agility, skills, and speed. However, one of the skill sets that often gets overlooked is that of the MIND. I realize that the reason is often a lack of understanding of what it means, along with some MYTHS that cloud one's understanding keeping them at a distance from the experience. I am writing about some myths because if that is the reason why you have not pursued this work I want to attempt to take away that barrier.

Myth 3:  Doing MENTAL SKILLS work will be boring, painful, and a waste. I can do this on my own by just trying harder and being more positive.

If you talk to the people I work with, you will find that some started with this very thought. It was not too long before their Mental Skills work became their absolute FAVORITE part of training. It was INSPIRING, INSIGHTFUL, ENCOURAGING, HELPFUL, and maybe most importantly, SO BENEFICIAL!

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Myths are beliefs that guide our thinking and behavior that may contain partial truth while also containing misguided information.

When I was growing up my mom would tell me I could not go swimming after dinner because I would drown from immediate cramping. For many years I thought that eating and swimming were dangerous only to find out that it was not true. I could now eat and the jump in the water! FREEDOM.

I suspect that we all have hooked our wagons to mythical beliefs only to uncover or find out the error of our ways. When myths are uncovered, it is because a NEW TRUTH that dispels that myth is learned or discovered through experience. My purpose for writing about myths and mental skills training is to bring new and fresh information to you in a manner that helps open up new roads of understanding. When this happens, you just may uncover something that could help you reach new heights of living and performance.

Myth 1: You have to be struggling to benefit from mental skills...