Losing your job is hard to stomach, but for athletes it can be particularly tough. More than half of former professional sportspeople have had concerns about their mental or emotional wellbeing since retiring, according to a 2018 BBC survey.  This week Simon sits down with sports psychologist Rebecca Symes to explore what makes up someone’s identity or ‘self’, and uncover the reasons why people- and sportspeople in particular- have emotional difficulties when their career finishes. Their identity is inevitably very bound up in their role as an athlete, so when that ends the question ‘who am I’ invariably rises. It’s a question relevant to each and every one of us, and there are lessons we can all take from the struggles many athletes go through.

Rebecca Symes: Identity

What can sport teach us about life and how best to live it? Each week Simon Mundie sits down with an expert and uses sport to answer life’s big questions.

What has Simon Mundie learnt from the DTMTS journey so far?

This is the last episode on BBC Sounds, before Simon takes DTMTS off to pastures new. The series will continue on all non-BBC platforms from the end of April. Over the course of over 130 episodes to date, the DTMTS guests have opened up to share their stories as well as their own "life lessons". To mark the end of the BBC chapter and the start of the new one, it is Simon's turn to be vulnerable about his story and what he has learned. Asking the questions is Dr Radha Modgil, who is an NHS doctor, mental health expert and broadcaster. She's Radio 1's resident doctor, and regularly appears on television too. For any questions regarding the future of DTMTS get in touch @simonmundie.

DTMTS Lessons: Simon Mundie

What the experience of flow in sport may reveal about the nature of reality. One theme that has arisen time and again with sportspeople on DTMTS is the experience of flow: when we lose ourselves in whatever it is that we are doing. Several sportspeople have spoken on DTMTS about the experience of "me" not being there in such moments. But what is that "me" that seems to disappear? That’s a hig question and here to help address it is Rupert Spira, a philosopher interested in the nature of reality, and the nature of consciousness.
 
Nothing is more obvious and undeniable than the fact that we are conscious. Now in this case when we say conscious, we mean aware – for example even when you are asleep, you are aware of your dreams. And right now – you are aware of the sight of these words. 

But, there is something called the hard problem of consciousness. It is one of the great scientific conundrums. It is our inability to explain how a lump of tissue or matter, in other words our brain, creates consciousness or awareness. Rupert argues that we are looking in the wrong direction. This is a counterintuitive view, and we are not arguing that it’s true, but before you immediately dismiss it, here is a quote from one of the most important physicists of the 20th century – the Nobel prizewinner Max Planck.
 
"I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness. Everything that we talk about, everything that we regard as existing, postulates consciousness."
 
In this episode, this is all brought back to sport, and the experiences sportspeople have – specifically while they are in flow. This episode also talks about sporting "egos", and how we project god-like status on to sports stars because of their creative talents, when in fact they are as normal as you or I. @simonmundie

A philosophy of sport: Rupert Spira

When does an obsession with winning become unhealthy? John Neal is head of coach development at the England and Wales cricket board, and he has extensive experience as a performance psychologist, within rugby, football and cricket. He has also worked with men's and women's teams at three World Cups across two sports. Despite setting out to help teams win, John's relationship with "winning" has evolved over his many years in sport. He came to see that trophies and titles isn't what it's all about, and that focussing on the outcome makes you not only less likely to enjoy your daily experience – but also less likely to win. In this episode there is also an announcement about the future of DTMTS, which will be heading to pastures new from April. @simonmundie

When winning isn't winning: John Neal

Why emotional intelligence can be more important than IQ. Daniel Goleman is an internationally known psychologist and author of the best-selling book, "Emotional Intelligence". EQ is about understanding ourselves better, managing our own emotions, and using empathy to better understand the feelings and emotions of the people around us. Daniel has also written "The Science of Meditation", which is a deep-dive into the research on meditation and how it affects both our "states" and our "traits". In this episode, Daniel explains what EQ is and how to develop it, as well as how mindfulness can contribute to that process. @simonmundie

Emotional Intelligence: Daniel Goleman

The power of accepting yourself and letting go of the need for approval. Billy Monger is a racing driver who was critically injured in a crash at Donington in 2017. He had both his legs amputated, but was back behind the wheel of a car within a year. Since his crash, Billy has been thrust into the limelight, but he's not lost sight of what is important. He's all about positivity, kindness and authenticity. He talks about the lessons he's learnt from and since his crash, including around gratitude and acceptance. To accept ourselves means to value our supposed imperfections as much as anything else, and no amount of self-improvement will make up for a lack of self-acceptance, as Billy has comes to understand. Billy is currently walking, cycling and kayaking 140 miles in four days for Comic Relief. The action is being filmed for BBC One – "Billy’s Big Red Nose Day Challenge". @simonmundie. www.bbc.co.uk/rednoseday

Rebecca Symes: Identity

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