United States
Greetings! I'm JJ... I'm a freelance writer/ solopreneur from small-town Flagtown, NJ.
But wait, there's more... I'm not just a writer. I'm a proud Stay-at-Home Dad (aka. Super Daddy Fantastico), humorist, explorer, musical dabbler, and Mental Performance Consultant with a graduate degree in Sport Psychology.
My areas of expertise, including family, fitness, sports, mental training, psychology, human performance, and parenting.
I hope you enjoy reading my articles. Much gratitude, JJ
You already know the definition of confidence, right? Likewise, you know how confidence improves performance in sports and life. Additionally, you understand how confidence enhances life satisfaction and enjoyment. Great, now that the basics are out of the way, let's get right into how to build confidence. These suggestions may sound weird.
Soccer
As the world watches, Ukraine and every aspect of life change minute by minute. The long-lasting impact of the pandemic and Russian invasion is unknown.
We have neglected the mental health and emotional well-being of athletes for far too long. The time has come to erase the stigma associated with mental
Many consider the 2019 Women's World Cup the seminal event for women's soccer. The tournament was the eighth FIFA Women's World Cup contested by 24
The USSF used to be in charge of USWNT player's earning capabilities in the NWSL. Now, USWNT and NWSL players have more financial freedom.
The chances of playing pro women's soccer may be slim, but where there's a will, there's a way. Among professional soccer players, 22.9% are women, and
The era of NCAA institutions benefiting from collegiate athletes has ended. For decades, the NCAA, universities, and colleges earned millions from its
For several years, the U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) and U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) engaged in a contentious battle over decades of unequal pay
The WE Soccer League is changing the landscape of women's soccer worldwide. "WE" stands for "Women's Empowerment" and is Japan's first professional
Women's soccer takes another leap forward with the formation of the USL Super League. The USL Super League is a new professional Division II women's
Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries have been at the forefront of sports for years. Since players are spending more time on the pitch at younger
Parenting
Smack dab in the middle of the debate was the Washington Football Team. Since 1933, Washington used the controversial name and logo 'Redskins'. Finally, in 2020, the team dropped its name and logo due to decades of protest, the current racial climate and racial awareness.
"Why in the world would I want my child to quit playing their sport?" "It is ludicrous to even suggest a strategy that would push my child out of a sport to which they have devoted so much time and effort, isn't it?"
Recently, my son was playing a soccer game on the grandest stage of them all. No, not the World Cup or Premier League but 10-and-Under travel soccer... And, let m
Sport Psych
We are always getting better at what we are doing. This is important, so I will repeat... WE ARE ALWAYS GETTING BETTER AT WHAT WE ARE DOING! The lawyer inside you is probably creating all sorts of counter-arguments... · "But I've lost my past four MMA fights, I'm not getting any better."
Every athlete knows that confidence is the key to success. If a pitcher is confident, he will challenge hitters and locate pitches better. If a golfer is confident, she will not second-guess every putt. If a cross country runner is confident, she will rev up the pace earlier in a race.
"What the hell are you doing? You keep making the same stupid mistakes over and over. If this is how you are going to play, you might as well quit. You are just wasting your time." Those negative criticisms are hard for some athletes to forget.
How often do "nevers" take residence in your mind? Doubts such as, "I could never win this race," "I will never be able to afford going to college," or "I am never going to become a champion," can stop you in your tracks.
"I played like crap today." Congratulations!!! "I feel like crap." Awesome... High Five! "I'm a piece of crap." Woo-hoo... I just stood up to give you a resounding standing ovation. I would like to extend to you a congratulatory hug for your crappiness!
What are you willing to pay for athletic success? This is a question you probably never posed to yourself but it is extremely important if you are to be fulfilled with your athletic experience.
Music impacts your life more than you know. However, external soundwaves are not our only source - songs can be played internally, as well. For those of us putting in long miles while training and racing, tuning into your mental radio can have a big impact on your emotions and change your physiology.
The key is to be ready for fear, instead of surprised by fear. It's been said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," when, in re
Self-Improvement/ Inspiration
My hand is raised, and I would have both hands raised if I wasn't typing this article. When I was young, I put myself down all the time. I never saw myself as "good enough." My friend Mike was much smarter than me. Paul was a better athlete than me.
Ahhhh... Mistakes, everyone makes them but not everyone learns from those baffling blunders. I have a love-hate relationship with mistakes. Don't get me wrong, I'm not some idealist who sees the beauty of weaving a self-error into a beautiful mosaic. By love, I mean I recognize mistakes often contain valuable hidden lessons.
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States and a man of conviction and confidence. Lincoln led the nation through a bloody American Civil War with over 600,000 causalities and slavery was one of the biggest ethical and constitutional crises the country has ever faced.
"Holy cow! Here we go again. New Years! Whoopty-Freakin'-Doo. Time to set another New Year's resolution. Last year, I failed miserably, but this year is different... I'm going to stick to my resolution definitely, hopefully." Sound familiar? If you are like most people, you probably fall off the New Year's resolution wagon before you flip the calendar to February.
Hoarding is a lifestyle that traps people by cluttering their personal space. Not only does hoarding dominate a person's life, it interferes with everyday functioning. Two types of hoarders exist: Physical hoarders and mental hoarders. Physical hoarders are weighed down by possessions. Mental hoarders are burdened by negative thoughts.
Mental distancing creates a safe space between yourself and other people who spew disapproving, critical, judgmental, and harmful opinions.
Hey, check out this weird convo I had with myself. Possibly, you have had a similar conversation and can relate. This kind of self-talk is the biggest obstacle
Humor
3 words that should be used more often: "please" and "thank you."