by Kolin Kriitmaa | Jan 13, 2026 | The Performance Lab
One of the biggest misunderstandings in sport – and in performance more broadly – is the belief that discomfort means something is wrong. We often mistake the difference between pain and discomfort. In reality, discomfort is often a sign that...
by Kolin Kriitmaa | Nov 19, 2025 | The Performance Lab
In the world we put a premium on high performance, whether in sports or any demanding endeavor, stress is often seen as the enemy. We’re told to calm down, relax, and avoid discomfort. Yet, this common advice might be holding us back from growth. Stress, when properly...
by Kolin Kriitmaa | Nov 6, 2025 | The Performance Lab
“You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you.” – Dan Millman Overthinking kills confidence faster than failure ever could! Every athlete faces pressure – but overthinking turns pressure into paralysis. It’s the...
by Kolin Kriitmaa | Oct 16, 2025 | The Performance Lab
In sport, thoughts move fast. Under pressure, they move even faster. Some help. Some hurt. And some, if left unchecked they kill performance. We refer to these as ANTs: Automatic Negative Thoughts. These are the rapid, often subconscious self-talk statements...
by Kolin Kriitmaa | Oct 8, 2025 | The Performance Lab
In sport, not everyone gets to start. And sometimes, you may not even be selected to play at all and you are a “healthy scratch.” For competitive and elite athletes, these moments can sting. They can make you question your role, your value, and even your identity as a...
by Kolin Kriitmaa | Sep 30, 2025 | The Performance Lab
“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” – Mike Tyson On the left they look ready to workout, but are they ready to compete, battle, deal with the discomfort of doing hard things? In sport, it’s easy to fall into the trap of looking ready. The...
