The Athlete's Way

Sweat and the biology of bliss.

by Christopher Bergland

Cooperation and Teamwork Build Intelligence

History and current neuroscientific research show us that being Machiavellian backfires in the long run and will derail your lifelong success. A fascinating new study titled “How Social Interaction and Teamwork Led to Human Intelligence” discovered that brain size and the subsequent evolution of human intelligence is increased by cooperation and teamwork. Read More

New Clues on Rewiring Your Brain

Our brains are highly flexible and can be reshaped despite years of hard-wiring. This week, two fascinating studies were released on how memories and perceptions are formed in the brain. In this entry I will give you some simple ways that you can apply these findings to help break a cycle of hard-wired thinking and avoidance behavior. Read More

Enriched Environments Build Better Brains

From the womb to the tomb, your environment and life experiences affect the health and structure of your brain. You have the power to make your mind and brain stronger by making the right lifestyle choices everyday. In a very competitive world, staying mentally sharp is paramount. In this blog I share 6 factors that will help you fortify a healthy brain at any age. Read More

The Neuroscience of Imagination

Albert Einstein said of the theory of relativity, "I thought of it while riding my bicycle." New ideas tend to bubble up and crystallize when you are inside the aerobic zone. While walking, jogging, biking ... you are able to problem solve in way that is different than when you are sitting at your desk. Neuroscientists are just beginning to understand this phenomenon. Read More

Building Bulletproof Courage

When was the last time that you were fearful of an upcoming event? Did you 'let them see you sweat' or did you exude confidence? Professional athletes learn to manage their emotions and create an aura of invincibility. In this entry I will give you 3 simple tricks for creating the illusion (and reality!) of bulletproof courage borrowed from the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Read More

The Importance of Self-Reliance

Things are so bad for so many people right now. How can we as a nation keep our individual and collective morale high in such desperate times? I think the key lies in a push for self-reliance, a philosophy made famous in an essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson in 1841. In this entry I will share 5 tips that can help you become more resilient and help you create self-reliance. Read More

Let's Not Get Panicky

Everybody has the power to create a state of mental and physical calmness on demand. Athletes learn to have grace under pressure by training their minds and bodies to counter-balance physiological changes that trigger the ‘fight-or-flight’ stress response and cause them to fumble or choke. You can do this in your daily life by using THE RELAXATION RESPONSE technique. Read More

The Neuroscience of Perseverance

Perseverance separates the winners from the losers in both sports and life. Are you someone who perseveres despite difficulties and setbacks, or do you tend to throw in the towel and call it quits when faced with a challenge or adversity? What makes some people able to keep pushing and complete a task while others habitually fizzle and don't follow through? Read More

Curiosity and Conscientiousness More Important than Intelligence

It's easy to become bored, discontent and lackadaisical when your daily routine turns into a rut. Recent psychological studies have confirmed that staying curious is not only the key to maintaining a sense of wonder and appreciation for life - it is the key to your success. Remaining conscientious is equally important. Read More

8 Mental Tips for Coping with Cancer Treatment

Applying the athletic mindset to battling cancer Read More

Superfluidity: Peak Performance Beyond a State of 'Flow'

The word Flow is synonymous with ‘being in the zone' or in the ‘Flow channel' or in a state ‘fluid performance'. Superfluidity is the supreme Flow experience. It is an ego-less state of "Super Flow" marked by zero friction (rubbing/slowing), zero viscosity (resistance to flowing) and Superconductivity (zero loss of energy). Read More