What is a Paradox? According to the Oxford dictionary, a paradox is a noun that has two meanings: 1. A seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true. 2. A person or thing that combines contradictory features or qualities. I love paradoxes because they areContinue reading “20 Fascinating Paradoxes About Life”
Tag Archives: writing
How to Improve Your Motivation
The problem of just using fear for motivation is that it triggers our fight-or-flight response. It increases our cortisol levels if we trigger this response too often, so in the long run it isn’t so great for our mental and physical health.
The Pro Athlete’s Checklist for Optimal Performance: Part Two
This is the second part of a two-part series exploring a checklist that professional athletes can go through to ensure that they perform at their best. Part One covered the important mental aspects of training for an upcoming competition and preparing yourself right before an event. If you haven’t read it yet, I recommend checking outContinue reading “The Pro Athlete’s Checklist for Optimal Performance: Part Two”
The Professional Athlete’s Checklist for Optimal Mental Performance: Part One
My last sports psychology article covered 21 strategies that you can apply to improve your sporting performance. If you struggle to cope with adversity, remain free from worry, tend not to peak under pressure, get offended by what your coaches say to you, or struggle to focus as much as you would like to, IContinue reading “The Professional Athlete’s Checklist for Optimal Mental Performance: Part One”
What Psychological Strategies Can Improve Your Sporting Performance the Most?
I’ve played a lot of sport in my lifetime. When I was six years old, my first basketball game was on the Diamond Valley mini-courts in Victoria, Australia. My most recent game was this week at Wan Smol Bag in Port Vila, Vanuatu. So that means I’ve been playing organised sport for over 27 years now.Continue reading “What Psychological Strategies Can Improve Your Sporting Performance the Most?”
What Separates a Good Athlete From a Truly Great One?
Could You Be Like Mike?Michael Jordan is potentially the greatest basketball player of all time. He is also thought to be the king of staying laser focused and composed under pressure, and consistently performing at his best. He holds the record of 866 straight games in the NBA scoring at least 10 points, and heContinue reading “What Separates a Good Athlete From a Truly Great One?”
Our Environment Makes More of a Difference to Our Health and Mental State Than We Realise
It’s been over 9 months since I moved to Vanuatu to volunteer as a Clinical Psychologist with the Port Vila Central Hospital and the Vanuatu Government’s Ministry of Health. That means that I am over a third of the way through my volunteer experience. The first 1–2 months were challenging and a little overwhelming withContinue reading “Our Environment Makes More of a Difference to Our Health and Mental State Than We Realise”
The Importance of Sleep for Good Mental Health
Sleep difficulties are a feature of nearly every mental health difficulty, including depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use issues, bipolar disorder and psychosis or schizophrenia. Take Depression for example. Up to 90% of individuals with Depression have sleep difficulties, and two out of every three have significant enough sleep problems to also have a diagnosis ofContinue reading “The Importance of Sleep for Good Mental Health”
The Four Ultimate Concerns in Life
I’ve been afraid to say this for a while because of how it will be perceived, but my favourite book of all time is actually a textbook. So before you think that makes me someone you would never want to speak to, I’ll ask if you have ever read anything by Irvin Yalom, American PsychiatristContinue reading “The Four Ultimate Concerns in Life”
Which Archetype Are You?
Ever notice how any successful story throughout history tends to have a similar cast of characters? If you haven’t bothered counting, I’ll let you know that most characters will fall into one of 12 principal roles, and this explains why and how we can find favourite stories so relatable. Carl Gustav Jung, a famous psychoanalyst,Continue reading “Which Archetype Are You?”
Damon Ashworth Psychology 
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