How this Sports Psychologist Trains NFL Players' Brains | The Assist | GQ Sports

Introduction to the importance of psychology in sports performance and mental health, featuring Michael Gervais, a high-performance psychologist working with the Seattle Seahawks.

Michael Gervais shares his personal journey from being a young athlete struggling with performance to obtaining a master's degree in sports science and a PhD in psychology with a focus on sport and performance.

Discussion about meeting Coach Carol and his expertise in structuring ecosystems and cultures for individuals to thrive, emphasizing the importance of relationships and living in the present moment.

Exploration of establishing personal philosophy, guiding principles, and the significance of aligning thoughts, words, and actions, with a focus on Coach Carol's philosophy of 'always compete.'

Explanation of training the mind for conviction, emphasizing mental skills, confidence building, and the importance of having clear principles to guide behavior in stressful situations.

Discussion on mindfulness training, including awareness, wisdom, and the two basic pillars of mindfulness which are single point focus and contemplative practices.

Highlighting the benefits of optimism, commitment to beliefs, and training in optimism to explore potential and improve outcomes, along with research findings on the impact of writing down positive aspects of life.

Detailed explanation of mindfulness practices, including single point focus and contemplative mindfulness, and the importance of posture and spine alignment in mindfulness training.

Exploration of the effects of mindfulness on the default mode network in the brain, flow states, stress responses, neural changes, and the wide-ranging benefits on health, behavior, and performance.