978-1-4222-3268-2

might mean feeling the cold air, hearing the cheering crowds, and imagining going down the slope with speed and precision. In some cases, the athletes actually move their arms and legs as they would during their event, while simply standing in their room or waiting in a line. Olympic skier Emily Cook told The New York Times , “We’re all up there flapping our arms. It looks insane, but it works.” Imagery techniques are not just for competition. Sports psychologists sometimes have athletes imagine seeing a broken bone or other injury heal. They might also help the athletes deal with the fear of failure. After working with sports psychologist Nicole Detling, Cook developed an image to help overcome fear. She imagined her fear as a big red balloon, which in her mind she popped with a pin. Sports psychologists also give athletes techniques for relaxing before an event. These can include deep-breathing exercise, and progressive relaxation. Sports psychologist JoAnn Dahlkoetter also encourages athletes to stay focused on the present moment, whether during training or a competition. As she wrote in the Huffington Post, “Instead of replaying past mistakes, or worrying about the future, let past and future events fade into the background. Be right on, right here, right now ….

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R ealities of the W orkplace