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Strength-Based Approaches
I chose this summary of strengths-based approaches as one of my artifacts to illustrate my ability to compile peer-reviewed evidence and research to support effective practice in sport and performance psychology and the achievement of performance excellence. This artifact not only showcases my competence to compile and convey the efficacy of evidence-based practices but provides the evidence of one of the most profound mechanisms for achieving performance excellence and overall well-being. This artifact showcases how the program at University of Western States has provided me with a plethora of interdisciplinary knowledge that will support my effective practice in assisting individuals in achieving performance excellence and over-all well-being.
Positive Psychology & Performance Excellence
I chose this summary of positive psychology as one of my artifacts to further illustrate my ability to compile peer-reviewed evidence and research to support effective practice in sport and performance psychology, as well as illustrate the value of applying positive psychology practices. This artifact was important for me to provide, as it is also an aspect of my professional philosophy, as I approach individuals with the basic tenets of Positive psychology, including highlighting individuals' strengths, focusing on when people are at their best, and attending to individual and group flourishing, ultimately providing interventions that promote superior functioning, as described by Biswas-Diener (2010). This artifact illustrates my ability to effectively identify applicable areas that would benefit from the many beneficial applications of positive psychology, including achieving performance excellence, supporting and optimizing athlete injury recovery, and empowering athletes when they are facing mental health challenges.
Self-Actualization & Performance Excellence
I chose this summary of self-actualization as one of my artifacts, because it is integral for sport and performance professionals to understand the features that surround an individual’s ability and propensity to achieve optimal performance. This artifact illustrates my ability to compile the evidence regarding self-actualization, as well as showcases my ability to work from a evidence-based framework to support athletes and performers in establishing the factors to support the achievement of self-actualization, where they can experience their greatest capacities, resulting in optimal performances. This artifact further illustrates how the program at University of Western States has provided me with a plethora of interdisciplinary knowledge that will support my effective practice in assisting individuals in achieving performance excellence and over-all well-being.
Optimizing Neuroscience for Performance Excellence
I chose this summary on the power of optimizing neuroscience to achieve performance excellence, as one of my artifacts because it showcases my ability to use interdisciplinary knowledge to support the achievement of performance excellence. I also chose this artifact because it reiterates an integral component of my professional philosophy, which is to implement interdisciplinary knowledge effectively, especially with respect for dynamic systems theory. This artifact illustrates my ability to efficaciously provide and summarize evidence on the value of how developing a functional awareness regarding how neuroanatomical factors influence contextual interpretation and performance, especially in stressful situations, provides positive coaches with the tools to optimize the autonomous functions of breathing to create a space for athletes and performers to respond in stressful performance environments, ultimately supporting performance excellence.
The impact of an external focus on performance excellence
I chose the Impacts of an External Focus of Attention Compared to an Internal Focus of Attention on Optimal Motor Learning and Performance in Athletes and Performers as an artifact because it showcases my ability to effectively review the research on an integral topic in the field of sport and performance. This artifact illustrates my ability to: Create a literature review; make appropriate suggestions for various applications of the findings; and provide relevant insights for future research to be conducted for a greater understanding of the topic in question. This artifact illustrates my comprehensive understanding of how to effectively define the functions and relevant applications of interdisciplinary knowledge provided by the program at University of Western States.
Balance of a growth mindset & loving the plateau
I chose the balance of the growth mindset and loving the plateau as one of my artifacts because it is an integral topic for professionals in the field to understand. This artifact is important for me to share as one of my artifacts as it defines an important component of my philosophy (i.e., maintaining a growth-mindset) while also explaining the importance of understanding the value of “loving the plateau.” This artifact illustrates the important balance that I have been fortunate to develop a greater understanding of through my program at University of Western States. This artifact provides an important framework for supporting optimal growth and performance excellence. This artifact illustrates how I will implement these mechanisms by maintaining an appropriate balance between seeking growth and development while maintaining patience and perspective with the natural ebb and flow that occurs with all growth and development, including the inevitable plateau and invaluable opportunities that can arise with the appropriate self-awareness and self-regulation to seize them.
The value of cross-cultural & spiritual practices
I chose the Value of Incorporating Diverse Cross-Cultural and Spiritual Practices and Frameworks to Support Performance Excellence, as one of my artifacts to showcase my open-minded, willingness and desire to implement the most effective practices to support each individual with respect for their own individual cross-cultural and spiritual practices and frameworks. This artifact illustrates my clear understanding of the integral role spirituality can play to enhance sporting performance, performance excellence, individual growth, as well as overall well-being. This artifact also identifies how I plan to effectively apply these understandings to best support individuals in the field.
Reflective practice to achieve performance excellence
I chose Reflective Practice to Achieve Performance Excellence as one of my artifacts because reflective practice plays an integral role in my effective practice in the field. This artifact defines how applying reflective practices is an important component in sports coaching and leadership context, as it allows leaders and coaches the opportunity to effectively learn from their experiences to support the achievement of performance excellence. This artifact is important to include because it defines how I will utilize reflective practice to increase my accountability, by ensuring that I show up fully and effectively for individuals and teams by being self-aware and showing up at my best and being accountable to the best practices. This artifact is also important because it identifies how I will utilize reflective practice to anticipate possible problems proactively, ultimately preventing avoidable issues
The pursuit of ikigai & performance excellence
I chose the Pursuit and Intersectionality of Ikigai and Performance Excellence, as one of my artifacts because it identifies my value of incorporating the philosophical understandings of eastern and western philosophies. This artifact defines my clear understanding of the values of incorporating a complementary balance of the philosophical underpinnings of eastern and western philosophies. It is important for me to define my value of implementing interdisciplinary knowledge and theories that support overall well-being and performance excellence with consideration and respect for the diverse populations that I will be privileged to support in the field.