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

There is nothing more powerful than understanding what your brain is doing behind the scenes. So many athletes push through fear, anxiety, and overwhelm without ever knowing that their brain waves might be the real reason they feel stuck. When your brain is sending protection signals, confidence feels harder, focus slips, and even simple skills can feel impossible.

Neurofeedback opens a window into that hidden world. In the conversation with Lisa Kramer, she explains how an EEG can reveal patterns that athletes carry every day without realizing it. Some brains stay in fight or flight even when there is no real danger. Others work so hard to stay alert that they never truly rest. These patterns can affect sleep, school, training, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

What makes neurofeedback so unique is that it teaches the brain how to regulate itself. As Lisa shares, the brain responds to real time feedback on a screen. When it moves toward healthier and more efficient patterns, the screen brightens and the sound stays clear. When it slips toward the patterns that cause trouble, the screen dims. Without trying, the brain begins to choose what feels rewarding. The more it practices, the more those healthy patterns stick.

For athletes with fear or mental blocks, this can be life changing. Lisa talks about how she often finds clear signs on the EEG that the freeze response is stuck on. It might not show up only during skills. It can hum quietly beneath everything they do. Once the brain learns how to settle, athletes finally get the pause they need to use their mental tools. They can think before reacting. They can trust their body again.

Parents and coaches, this is why your athlete is not choosing fear. Their brain is simply working overtime. Neurofeedback gives the brain a chance to reset. It helps them feel organized, awake, and able to focus. Many people notice subtle changes within a few sessions. Better sleep. Less panic. More clarity. A little more calm. These small changes build into confidence that lasts.

In this episode, you will hear
• What an EEG shows about an athlete’s brain
• Why some athletes stay stuck in fight or flight
• How neurofeedback teaches the brain to regulate itself
• Real signs of progress athletes often feel in daily life
• Hopeful guidance for families navigating fear and mental blocks

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I sit down with neurofeedback specialist Lisa Kramer to break down how neurofeedback works and why it can help athletes with fear, anxiety, ADHD, concussion symptoms, and mental blocks. Lisa shares clear explanations and real stories that give so much hope to athletes and families who are ready for a new way forward.

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

Have you ever watched two young athletes rise through the hardest sport and wondered how they stay grounded through it all? Maybe you have seen your own gymnast pushing through pressure, comparison, or setbacks and you hope they will find the joy again. Every parent, coach, and young gymnast knows that feeling of needing something deeper to hold on to.

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I talk with Senior Elite gymnasts Annalisa and Malea Milton, twins who share a bond that has shaped every step of their journey. They are identical, but so different in personality. One is outgoing, one is quieter. One bounces back faster from bars, the other takes more time. Yet together, they lift each other, encourage each other, and stay steady through the intense world of elite gymnastics. Their story is full of wisdom for anyone who wants a healthier, more joyful path in this sport.

They share how their faith helps them stay strong, how communication with coaches builds trust, and how important it is to know yourself outside of gymnastics. They talk about injuries that changed everything, seasons that felt heavy, and the moment they realized that doing gymnastics for someone else will always lead to burnout. They also share the mindset skills that keep them steady in competition, from prayer to simple reminders like trusting the work they do every day.

In this episode, you will hear

• How Annalisa and Malea learned to support each other through comparison and injury
 • Why trusting the big picture can shift the entire gymnastics journey
 • What they look for in a healthy gym environment and coaching style
 • How doing gymnastics for yourself builds true confidence and joy

Your sport cannot be the only thing that defines you. You must find who you are beyond the scores, the medals, and the pressure. This is the heart of the Milton twins’ message, and it is a powerful one for every gymnast, parent, and coach.

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

Have you ever watched your athlete work unbelievably hard and still wonder if their moment will ever come? Maybe you have seen them push through setbacks, fear, or comparison and you hope someday all that effort will pay off. Every gymnast and every sports parent knows that feeling of waiting for the breakthrough.

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I talk with Utah gymnast Sarah Krump, whose story is a powerful lesson in perseverance. Sarah grew up dreaming of competing for Utah, but when recruiting came around, the path did not unfold the way she imagined. She chose to walk on with no scholarship, trusting her gut even when the odds felt small.

She shares how she struggled with confidence in her early college years, how comparison held her back, and how her coaches and sports psych team helped her return to the joy of her own gymnastics. Then she tells the unforgettable story of being thrown unexpectedly into the floor lineup and delivering a routine that changed everything. Her journey is full of hope for parents, coaches, and young gymnasts who wonder if staying the course still matters.

In this episode, you will hear

• How Sarah followed her dream even without a scholarship
 • What helped her overcome comparison and trust herself again
 • The surprising moment she was called into the floor lineup
 • How staying ready led to her breakthrough

 Your gymnastics is for you to do. Your gymnastics is not for someone else to do. - Sarah Krump

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

Have you ever wanted something so big that it scared you? Maybe your dreams feel exciting and terrifying at the same time. Every athlete, at some point, faces that moment where fear and possibility collide.

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I talk with Team USA skeleton racer Andy Whittier about what it really means to become fearless. Andy is in the run up to the Winter Olympics, chasing huge goals while training his mind as hard as his body.

He shares his journey from college football player to elite skeleton athlete, racing headfirst down icy tracks at almost 90 miles per hour. We talk about how he uses visualization, trust, and mental training to stay calm when every instinct tells him to hit the brakes.

Andy’s story is a reminder that fear is not something to get rid of but something to work with. True confidence comes from preparation, focus, and the courage to keep going even when your brain says stop.

In this episode, you will hear

• How Andy went from college football to Team USA skeleton racing
 • What becoming fearless really looks like in action
 • How visualization helps him perform under pressure
 • The mental skills that keep him steady in high-stakes moments

"Run, let it run, because we have to push our sled, right? So I just run, let it run. Two, relax and trust it, and everything's going to be okay. And just those two reminders at the beginning of a race really just calm me down." -  Andy Whittier

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