I'm halfway through my eight week improv course, and I've been compiling my insights in regards to improv's application to other types of performance. Here are the first three thoughts:

The lore of Patrick Mahomes continues to grow. After a second MVP season and a second Super Bowl championship, you have to consider what separates him from the competition. You can start with the foundation he has laid. Mahomes has used the same personal trainer since he was 10. In addition to that, his experience as a multi-sport athlete in high school enhanced his skills on the football field. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, look at the work that Mahomes has done on his mind. While in college, he was introduced to the school's mental performance coach. He learned the value of meditation and the importance of using his working memory efficiently - choosing to focus on what's most important in the moment. These are lessons that he continues to apply today. Mahomes also has a great relationship with failure, understanding that it is the vehicle to future success. In fact, he believes that losses help you more than success, and he's channeled these lessons into a commitment to continuous improvement. Without his trademark humility, Mahomes wouldn't have learned these lessons. The NFL is on notice - Mahomes is still getting better.

I recently led a class through a portion of the US Army's resilience curriculum. Around the same time, I listened to a podcast with Jon Acuff, author of Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking. Both of these resources address overthinking and thinking traps (also known as ANTs - Automatic Negative Thoughts). An effective method to interrupt this type of thinking utilizes three simple questions:

I like to add a fourth question to the list - What's a more productive thought? Try using these questions the next time you find yourself in a thinking spiral.

If you found this helpful, please share it with others.

Missed an edition? Check out the archives.