Waiting can be one of the hardest parts of growth. When things feel uncertain or out of your control, the urge to figure it out now can be overwhelming. Patience rarely feels exciting, yet it is often the skill that determines whether you keep going or give up too soon.

In this episode, I share why patience is one of the most powerful traits athletes and high performers can develop. I open up about my own struggle with impatience and the discomfort of not knowing how things will turn out. Like many athletes, I wanted certainty so I could feel safe and confident, but life does not work that way.

I reflect on my own journey and how my path was far from linear. From childhood dreams to dropping out of college and eventually finding my way back to the work I love, progress required far more time, support, and patience than I ever expected. What felt like setbacks were actually part of the process.

We explore the first key to patience: getting comfortable being uncomfortable. Building grit means continuing to show up even when things are hard, progress is slow, or results are unclear. Every fall, setback, or disappointment becomes another opportunity to get back up and try again.

The second focus of the episode is developing a growth mindset. Impatience thrives when we believe that if something has not happened yet, it never will. Adding the word “yet” shifts failure into progress and reminds us that improvement is still possible with effort and persistence.

Finally, we talk about keeping things in perspective. Long-term dreams rarely come with straight paths or perfect timelines. When athletes focus on the bigger picture instead of immediate outcomes, patience becomes easier and pressure decreases.

In this episode, you will hear
 • Why discomfort is essential for developing patience
 • How grit helps athletes stay in the process
 • How a growth mindset changes the way setbacks feel
 • Why focusing on the bigger picture reduces pressure

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I share three practical ways to develop patience and why trusting the process can help athletes stay motivated, confident, and committed to their long-term goals.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

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Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

Watching your child struggle can be exhausting. You see how hard they are trying, yet small moments turn into big emotions, power struggles, or shutdowns. You may wonder why it feels so hard to stay calm when all you want to do is help.

In this episode, I talk with calm parenting expert Kirk Martin about how parents’ emotions and reactions shape their children’s behavior and confidence. Kirk works with families raising strong willed and ADHD wired kids, and he explains why calm, confident leadership creates more change than control ever does.

Kirk shares a pivotal moment from his own parenting journey. After a heated argument, he discovered his son was writing a school paper calling his dad his superhero. That moment revealed how deeply kids want connection and approval, even when behavior looks difficult or defiant.

We discuss why yelling, nagging, and over managing often backfire. When parents stay regulated, set clear boundaries, and give kids ownership within those limits, power struggles decrease and kids are more likely to step up.

A key theme in this conversation is how kids experience mistakes and pressure. One hard moment can quickly turn into I am bad or I am not good enough. Instead of fixing emotions, connection grows when parents reflect feelings, get curious, and normalize the experience.

We also explore nerves and anxiety, especially for young athletes. Feeling nervous usually means a child cares. Confidence is learning to move through discomfort with support, not making it disappear.

In this episode, you will hear
• Why calm parenting reduces power struggles
• What strong willed and ADHD wired kids need most
• How to respond when kids make mistakes
• Why normalizing nerves builds confidence

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I talk with Kirk Martin about calm parenting, emotional regulation, and how connection helps kids feel safe, confident, and supported.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

Watching an athlete feel stuck can be painful. You see how hard they are trying. You see the fear and frustration building, and you may wonder why some kids break through while others stay trapped in the same place.

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Suzanne Pottratz, senior mental performance coach at PerformHappy, about what actually helps athletes move forward. Suzanne works closely with kids who struggle with fear and mental blocks, and she explains why openness is often the key to change.

Athletes who make big breakthroughs usually arrive willing to try something new. Many feel desperate after trying everything else, and that willingness leads to real progress. Even athletes who start out resistant can change when trust is built and they feel understood within the gym environment.

We also discuss why some kids stay stuck longer. Often, it is not the athlete. It is the environment. Pressure from parents or inflexible coaching can slow progress, even when intentions are good. Lasting confidence requires alignment between the athlete, parents, and coaches, along with helping kids develop a voice of their own.

Suzanne shares her personal story of quitting gymnastics because fear became overwhelming. That experience drives her work today. Instead of forcing skills, she helps athletes rebuild trust through emotional safety, patience, and very small steps forward.

A powerful theme in this episode is mindset. Fear does not have to disappear for progress to happen. Fear and action can exist together. Progress becomes data, not drama, when athletes learn to ask what they can do today instead of judging themselves.

In this episode, you will hear
 • Why openness leads to faster breakthroughs
 • How trust helps resistant athletes change
 • Why environment matters more than effort
 • How fear and action can coexist
 • The role of awareness, confidence, and self trust

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I talk with Dr. Suzanne Pottratz about fear, mental blocks, and how athletes can rebuild confidence and self trust one small step at a time.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

It can be really confusing to watch your child work hard in gymnastics and still struggle with injuries, low energy, or stalled progress. You see the effort. You know how much they love the sport. And yet something just does not seem to be clicking.

Many parents assume this is just part of gymnastics. That soreness, exhaustion, and constant setbacks are the price of training at a high level. When skills plateau or injuries keep coming back, it is easy to believe the answer is more grit or pushing through.

In this episode, we talk about a piece that is often overlooked. Nutrition. Both Taylor Krippner and Dr. Brittany Lapinski share how being under fueled affected their energy, power, recovery, and overall enjoyment of the sport. Taylor describes feeling hurt all the time, having no energy, and relying on talent alone just to get through training. Even though she loved gymnastics, it stopped being fun.

Dr. Brittany Lapinski reflects on growing up in a time when gymnasts often burned out young because their bodies were simply worn down. She shares her own experience of being under fueled and how it limited how far she was able to go in the sport. Not because of a lack of talent or effort, but because her body was not properly supported.

When athletes are not getting enough fuel, the body struggles to recover. Energy drops. Injuries become more common. Performance plateaus. Over time, athletes may start to feel frustrated, powerless, or disconnected from a sport they once loved. What looks like mental burnout often has a strong physical root.

The encouraging part of this conversation is that things are changing. There are more resources, more education, and more awareness now than ever before. When athletes are properly fueled and supported, they have a much better chance of staying healthy, enjoying the sport, and reaching their potential.

In this episode, you will hear
 • How under fueling affects energy, power, and performance
 • Why constant injuries are often a warning sign, not bad luck
 • How nutrition plays a role in burnout and enjoyment of the sport
 • Why today’s athletes have more opportunities for support than past generations

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I talk with Taylor Krippner and Dr. Brittany Lapinski about how nutrition impacts performance in gymnastics and why fueling the body properly can make such a powerful difference in an athlete’s experience.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

It can be really confusing to watch your child struggle in their sport when you are trying so hard to help. You care. You see how much it matters to them. So you encourage them, ask questions, and try to give advice that you think will help.

But sometimes, that help does not land the way you expect.

I talk to a lot of parents who feel stuck. They are doing everything they can to support their athlete, but their child seems more stressed, more frustrated, or less motivated. What feels like support to a parent can start to feel like pressure to the athlete.

In this episode, I explain why this happens. As kids get older, especially in their teen years, they start to separate from their parents. Even kind and calm comments can feel heavier than they used to. Athletes may start to worry about disappointing their parents, even when no one is saying anything negative.

When parents try harder to help, athletes often feel more pressure instead of less. That pressure can make it harder to enjoy the sport and harder to perform well. This does not mean parents are doing anything wrong. It just means the relationship changes as kids grow.

Athletes still need support, but not all of it can come from their parents. What parents can give is safety, calm, and love that does not change based on how a meet or game goes.

In this episode, you will hear
 • Why helping more can sometimes make things worse
 • How growing up changes what support feels like
 • Why pressure can lower confidence
 • What parents can do instead

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I talk about why help can start to feel like pressure and how parents can support their athletes in a healthier way.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

Scores feel important in judged sports. They’re everywhere. On scoreboards, on social media, and in post-meet conversations. But the way we talk about scores can quietly shape how an athlete feels about themselves.

I see this all the time when I work with teams. After a meet, I ask athletes what they’re most proud of. At first, they’re ready to answer. Then I say they can’t talk about scores or places. Suddenly, it’s hard for them to think of anything. That’s how early athletes learn to measure their experience by outcomes they don’t control.

The problem is that scores start to feel like proof. Proof that the work was worth it. Proof that the money, time, and effort mattered. When the score isn’t what they hoped for, many athletes walk away feeling like they failed, even if they competed well.

I once heard a story about a gymnast with intense performance anxiety. She had been falling meet after meet. Then one day, she stayed on every event. For the first time, she hit four for four. She was proud just to get through the meet.

The first thing her mom said was, “Why am I paying so much money for you to get 14th place?”

In moments like that, kids don’t just hear disappointment about results. They hear something about their worth. They learn that effort only counts if the number is good. And that belief is a powerful driver of performance anxiety.

That’s why I tell parents something that can feel uncomfortable at first: don’t talk to your kid about scores. That’s not your role. Your job isn’t to help them gain tenths. Your job is to support what they actually control.

Praise resilience. Praise effort. Praise how they bounce back, stay focused, and keep showing up. Notice progress compared to their last meet, not someone else’s podium finish.

Those messages help athletes feel safe to compete, learn, and grow.

In this episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I talk about how to talk about scores in a way that protects your child’s confidence and helps reduce performance anxiety.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

There is something really confusing about watching an athlete look great in practice and then struggle in competition. One week everything feels solid and confident, and the next it feels like their body stops cooperating. For parents and athletes, that shift can feel scary and frustrating, especially when nothing about the skills has actually changed.

I talk with athletes and families all the time who ask the same question: Why does this keep happening? They know the skills are there. They have done them over and over in practice. But when the pressure is on, their heart races, their muscles tighten, and everything suddenly feels harder than it should.

In this episode, I explain why competition creates such a strong reaction in the body. When something feels important, the brain treats it like a threat. The heart speeds up, breathing changes, and the body gets tense. This is not a sign that an athlete is weak or unprepared. It is a normal response that shows up when the brain thinks something really matters.

What makes the biggest difference is how that feeling is understood. I use the example of a roller coaster. Some people love them. Some people hate them. But the physical sensations are the same. The difference is the story the mind tells about those sensations. One athlete feels nervous and thinks, I’m ready. Another feels the same nerves and thinks, Something is wrong.

Most performance problems do not come from nerves themselves. They come from worrying about the nerves. When an athlete starts believing that feeling nervous means they are going to fail, their focus shifts away from what they know how to do. The skills are still there, but fear makes them harder to access.

Throughout the episode, I talk about why mental training is so important for athletes who struggle under pressure. Learning how to understand nerves differently helps athletes stay present and grounded instead of getting stuck in fear. When pressure feels familiar instead of threatening, competition becomes easier to handle.

In this episode, you will hear
 • Why competition feels so different from practice
 • Why nerves are a normal part of performing
 • How interpretation changes what pressure feels like
 • Why worry, not nerves, leads to mistakes
 • How mental training helps athletes compete with more consistency

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I talk about why athletes don’t always compete like they practice and how changing the way they think about pressure can make a big difference.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

There is something that feels really scary about taking time off from training, even when you know your body needs it. For many gymnasts and families, the holiday break comes with mixed emotions. Part of you is relieved to rest, and part of you is worried about losing skills or confidence right before competition season starts.

I talk with athletes and parents every year who feel this exact fear. You have been working hard for months, and a few days away from the gym can feel like everything is on the line. That fear is very common in gymnastics and other year round sports, and it does not mean something is wrong with you or your training.

In this episode, I explain why time off does not actually cause athletes to lose skills. What usually creates problems is what your mind expects to happen when you come back. If you expect to feel rusty or scared, your body often tightens up. Skills can feel off, thoughts start racing, and confidence drops. One small moment like that can grow into a bigger fear if you do not know how to respond.

I also share why skills are not lost in a few days or even a week. Your body remembers far more than you think. The key is how you ease back in. Starting with basics, giving yourself time, and talking with your coach when something feels off helps you rebuild trust quickly instead of forcing yourself to push through fear.

Throughout the episode, I focus on why mental training matters before there is a problem. Mental skills help you handle moments like breaks so they do not turn into stress or mental blocks. When you know how to check in with your brain and build confidence step by step, time off can actually help you come back more rested and more confident.

In this episode, you will hear
 • Why holiday breaks feel so stressful for gymnasts and parents
 • Why fear after time off is normal
 • Why skills are rarely lost during short breaks
 • How small fears can grow if they are ignored
 • What to do to come back feeling calm and confident

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I talk about holiday breaks, fear of losing skills, and how mental training helps athletes rest and return with confidence.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

There is something powerful about hearing a young athlete describe what it feels like to step into a moment they once only imagined. For Zoey Molomo, that moment came at 15 years old when she competed at Olympic Trials alongside the best gymnasts in the world. What stands out most is not just the stage, but the calm, joy, and perspective she brought with her into it.

Zoey shares how her love for gymnastics started early, from being a kid who loved being upside down to watching Gabby Douglas in the 2012 Olympics and seeing what was possible. That spark carried her through elite training, big competitions, and the realization that she truly belonged at the highest levels of the sport.

The conversation dives into the mental side of performance, including how Zoey learned to manage pressure by keeping competition simple. With the help of mental coaching, she reframed meets as just one more routine, developed tools to quiet overthinking, and learned how consistency is built through preparation and trust. She also reflects on injuries at a young age, the patience they required, and how those challenges helped her grow confidence, communication, and resilience.

Zoey also talks about the importance of strong support systems, from parents and coaches to mentors and teammates, and how a positive, connected environment has allowed her to thrive both mentally and emotionally. As she looks ahead to UCLA, she shares her excitement for team competition and continuing to grow as an athlete and as a person.

In this episode, you will hear
 • What it felt like to compete at Olympic Trials at 15
 • How Zoey learned to handle pressure and expectations
 • The mental tools that helped her stop overanalyzing
 • How injuries shaped her resilience and confidence
 • Why support and joy matter in elite gymnastics

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I talk with elite gymnast Zoey Molomo about Olympic Trials, mental training, injury recovery, and building confidence on the biggest stages.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

There is something powerful about hearing an athlete talk about the moment their childhood dream becomes real. For Isabelle David, it started with wanting to flip like the older girls and never losing that spark. She chased big dreams even before she fully understood them, and that drive carried her all the way to the Jamaican National Team.

Representing Jamaica at Junior Worlds was the moment everything clicked. Isabelle shares how she stood beside top athletes and felt a mix of pride and imposter syndrome. She realized she was doing the very thing she dreamed about as a young gymnast. That experience gave her confidence, focus, and a belief in herself that she still carries today.

Her journey also shows the reality of setbacks. After committing to the University of Michigan, she got injured while competing for Jamaica. The fear of what might happen next was real, but she chose to trust her coaches, create a plan, and work step by step toward her comeback. Her story reminds young gymnasts, parents, and coaches that confidence grows when you stay grounded, patient, and clear about your goals.

In this episode, you will hear
 • What it felt like for Isabelle to represent Jamaica
 • How imposter syndrome shows up for elite gymnasts
 • The injury moment that tested her belief
 • Why mental training helped her stay steady
 • How she built her confidence again
 • The trust that helped her choose the University of Michigan

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I talk with elite gymnast Isabelle David about dreams, injuries, confidence, and the mindset that helped her rise through every challenge.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/complete_performance/

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Check out my website: https://completeperformancecoaching.com/

Write to me! Email: [email protected]

Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com