Ever noticed your brilliant, sensitive gymnast getting stuck in their own head? You’re not alone. As a sports psychology expert, I’ve seen countless smart kids struggle with mental blocks, and today I want to share some hope and practical advice. What Makes Smart Kids Different in Sports Intelligent athletes often have some common traits:

• They’re incredibly talented.
• They move quickly through skill levels.
• They love their sport deeply.
• They’re sensitive and cautious.
• They set incredibly high standards for themselves.

Sound familiar? These qualities are actually superpowers when understood correctly. The Science Behind Smart Kids and Anxiety Research shows that intelligent kids have more active imaginations. This means they’re amazing at problem solving but also incredible at imagining potential problems. Their brains are wired to detect threats quickly, which kept our ancestors safe but can create mental roadblocks in sports. Turning Overthinking into a Strength Here’s the good news: overthinking can become your child’s greatest asset. By teaching them to:

• Question their negative thoughts
• Use positive imagery
• Break skills into manageable steps
• Track their own progress

You can help transform anxiety into confidence. Quick Tips for Coaches and Sports Parents

• Listen to their fears without dismissing them.
• Help them collect data about their performance.
• Encourage growth mindset thinking.
• Celebrate small victories.

Remember, a mental block isn’t a weakness. It is an opportunity for incredible growth.

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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Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

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 painful than hearing words that cut into your confidence. Maybe someone told you that you will never get that skill, or that you are not good enough, or that you are holding the team back. Even if you try to ignore it, those comments can sit in your mind and make you question yourself again and again.

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I want to help you and your gymnast handle those moments. Bullies can show up as teammates, as coaches, or even as the little voice inside your own head. And sometimes the inner bully is the hardest one to deal with because you cannot walk away from your own thoughts.

Here is the good news. You do not have to let those voices decide who you are or what you are capable of. Professor Jaime Hamilton, a communication expert, shared a strategy that I love. Instead of arguing with a bully, you interrupt them with something completely unexpected. Imagine a teammate makes a mean comment and instead of shrinking or snapping back, you calmly say “pineapple pancakes” or “sparkly cinnamon roll” and then walk away. The bully is left with nothing to feed on, and the power of their words disappears.

You can use this same trick with your inner bully. When that voice starts saying “I always mess up” or “I will never be good at this,” stop it in its tracks. Say your silly phrase out loud or in your head. Give yourself a little smile. Then replace the negative thought with something kinder like “I am learning” or “I am getting stronger every day.” This small shift makes a big difference because it trains your brain to stop beating you up and start lifting you up.

Here is the truth. Confidence does not grow from criticism. It grows when you respond with kindness, when you choose not to give power to negative voices, and when you practice believing in yourself a little more each day.

In this episode, I share:

• The way hurtful words can crush confidence
• Why the inner bully can be louder than anyone else
• How Professor Jaime Hamilton’s technique interrupts bullying
• How you can reset negative thoughts and build yourself back up

“If someone talked to you the way you talk to yourself, would they be your friend?” – Rebecca Smith

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: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

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 frustrating than watching your athlete finally get a skill… only to lose it the very next day. One step forward, two steps back. Skills appear, then disappear, leaving athletes, parents, and coaches in a cycle of confusion and discouragement.

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I’m diving into what I call “Yo-Yo Confidence” — that frustrating cycle of gaining and losing skills — and the hidden habits that actually make mental blocks worse.

As a gymnast, I lived this cycle myself. I was the one crying on the beam, terrified of going backwards, desperate to “just go.” That is why I am passionate about giving hope to the athletes who feel stuck and to the parents and coaches who want to help them.

Through years of coaching and mental performance training, I’ve identified eight common patterns that keep athletes trapped in their mental blocks. These patterns include everything from trying endless “tricks” to force yourself to go, to comparing yourself to fearless teammates, to refusing to take a step back when your brain clearly isn’t ready.

Here’s the truth: forcing, criticizing, or rushing never builds lasting confidence. In fact, it does the opposite. Confidence grows when athletes learn to listen to their brain, take smart steps back, and celebrate progress, no matter how small.

If your athlete is losing skills as quickly as they gain them, this episode will help you break the cycle. Together, we’ll reframe mental blocks as information — not failure — and show you how to create an environment where consistency and confidence can take root.

In this episode, Coach Rebecca talks about:

• The eight hidden habits that keep athletes stuck in mental blocks
• Why forcing yourself to “just go” backfires
• The danger of expecting to start where you left off yesterday
• Why celebrating small wins is the key to lasting confidence

“The worst thing you can do for a mental block is force it. The fastest way through is listening to your brain, starting where you are, and building trust one step at a time.” – Rebecca Smith

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: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com

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