Thread by @BStulberg

Important—but rarely discussed—principles of *lasting* performance thread.

Some of the most meaningful but least talked about stuff I've come across over the past few years. All supported by science, practice, and ancient wisdom.

Performance and wellbeing go hand-in-hand. You can hole yourself for a short period of time but it will be just that—short.

Lasting performance rests on a foundation of health.
-Physical
-Cognitive
-Emotional
-Spiritual
-Social

Can be out of balance acutely, but not for long.

Self-compassion is key to improvement.

When you judge yourself you become MORE, not less, likely to fall into same cognitive/behavioral pattern you are trying to outgrow. This is as true for someone who overeats as it is for someone who falls apart before Olympic events.

Mood is separate than action. You can learn this.

Getting into a positive or calm state is really hard and sometimes impossible. Better than working on this is working on doing your thing even when you are down. Visualize the worst situation and mood state—and then go practice.

Passion is paradox.

-Really caring about something and going all-in is beautiful and heartbreaking.
-Tying your identity to your pursuit is energizing and destructive.

There is no easy or quick fix to this stuff. Just pay attention and be aware of all it as it plays out.

Trying works really well until it gets in the way.

In order to have a chance of flow—that immersive state of in-the-zone peak performance—you have to try really hard to climb the ladder of mastery. But once you get near the top, you've got to stop trying altogether and just go.

There are no "hacks."

Keep your easy days EASY and your hard days HARD.

Too many people never have the confidence to take it really, truly easy and as a result they are never able to go really, truly hard. They get stuck in the murky middle. The murky middle is associated with stagnation and burnout.

Humility is key to growth.

If you come across someone who says (or acts like) they have it all figured out run the opposite direction. And if you catch yourself saying (or acting like) this, love the moment but give yourself a gentle reminder it will change, probably soon.

Keeping perspective IS that important. But it's also really hard, especially if you're in the thick of something that seems—that is—big to you.

Spend a day in nature without any devices.
Listen to your favorite music with no distraction.

Being (or wanting to be) at the top of your field does not make you less likely to experience mental illness. But it does make you less likely to get help.

If you need, get help.

Vulnerability is strength.

People put up armor because they have fear.

Fear is constricting. It's hard to perform well when you are tight.

Confronting fear is HARD. But on the other side of fear is love.

Love—unlike fear—is open and expansive. This is when you crush it.