PerformHappy with Rebecca Smith

Latest Episodes:

How Sarah Neumayer Overcame the Twisties Oct 07, 2025

Show notes

If you have ever experienced the twisties, you know how overwhelming they can be. The twisties are a type of mental block that make even familiar skills feel impossible. One day everything flows, and the next your body and brain no longer feel in sync. It can be confusing, frustrating, and lonely.

That is why this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast is so special. I talk with Sarah and her mom Jennifer, who both share their journey of working through the twisties together. Sarah opens up about what it was like to face this mental block head on and the steps that helped her come out the other side more confident than ever. Jennifer shares her honest perspective as a parent supporting her daughter through the ups and downs, offering thoughtful insight that so many parents will relate to.

Sarah is now preparing for an incredible Level 10 season, and her story is full of real, practical steps that made a difference for her. Jennifer’s words bring a parent’s heart and wisdom to the conversation, showing what support can look like during a tough season.

In this episode, you will hear

• How Sarah faced the twisties and worked through her mental block
• The steps that helped her rebuild trust and confidence
• The mental skills she gained along the way
• Jennifer’s honest perspective on supporting her daughter through the process

"Let’s scour the planet and see if we can find the magic fix." - Coach Rebecca

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur
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Write to me! Email: rebecca@completeperformancecoaching.com
Ready to help your athlete overcome fears and mental blocks while gaining unstoppable confidence? Discover the transformative power of PerformHappy now. If your athlete is struggling or feeling left behind, it's time for a change. Are you ready? For more info and to sign up: PerformHappy.com

Are Smart Kids More Prone to Anxiety? Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

Ever noticed your brilliant, sensitive gymnast getting stuck in their own head? You’re not alone. As a sports psychology expert, I’ve seen countless smart kids struggle with mental blocks, and today I want to share some hope and practical advice. What Makes Smart Kids Different in Sports Intelligent athletes often have some common traits:

They’re incredibly talented.
They move quickly through skill levels.
They love their sport deeply.
They’re sensitive and cautious.
They set incredibly high standards for themselves.

Sound familiar? These qualities are actually superpowers when understood correctly. The Science Behind Smart Kids and Anxiety Research shows that intelligent kids have more active imaginations. This means they’re amazing at problem solving but also incredible at imagining potential problems. Their brains are wired to detect threats quickly, which kept our ancestors safe but can create mental roadblocks in sports. Turning Overthinking into a Strength Here’s the good news: overthinking can become your child’s greatest asset. By teaching them to:

Question their negative thoughts
Use positive imagery
Break skills into manageable steps
Track their own progress

You can help transform anxiety into confidence. Quick Tips for Coaches and Sports Parents

Listen to their fears without dismissing them.
Help them collect data about their performance.
Encourage growth mindset thinking.
Celebrate small victories.

Remember, a mental block isn’t a weakness. It is an opportunity for incredible growth.

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How to Shut Down a Bully in Gymnastics (Even the One in Your Head) Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

There is nothing more painful than hearing words that cut into your confidence. Maybe someone told you that you will never get that skill, or that you are not good enough, or that you are holding the team back. Even if you try to ignore it, those comments can sit in your mind and make you question yourself again and again.

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I want to help you and your gymnast handle those moments. Bullies can show up as teammates, as coaches, or even as the little voice inside your own head. And sometimes the inner bully is the hardest one to deal with because you cannot walk away from your own thoughts.

Here is the good news. You do not have to let those voices decide who you are or what you are capable of. Professor Jaime Hamilton, a communication expert, shared a strategy that I love. Instead of arguing with a bully, you interrupt them with something completely unexpected. Imagine a teammate makes a mean comment and instead of shrinking or snapping back, you calmly say “pineapple pancakes” or “sparkly cinnamon roll” and then walk away. The bully is left with nothing to feed on, and the power of their words disappears.

You can use this same trick with your inner bully. When that voice starts saying “I always mess up” or “I will never be good at this,” stop it in its tracks. Say your silly phrase out loud or in your head. Give yourself a little smile. Then replace the negative thought with something kinder like “I am learning” or “I am getting stronger every day.” This small shift makes a big difference because it trains your brain to stop beating you up and start lifting you up.

Here is the truth. Confidence does not grow from criticism. It grows when you respond with kindness, when you choose not to give power to negative voices, and when you practice believing in yourself a little more each day.

In this episode, I share:

• The way hurtful words can crush confidence
• Why the inner bully can be louder than anyone else
• How Professor Jaime Hamilton’s technique interrupts bullying
• How you can reset negative thoughts and build yourself back up

“If someone talked to you the way you talk to yourself, would they be your friend?” – Rebecca Smith

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

How to Know if You're Making Your Mental Block Worse Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

There is nothing more frustrating than watching your athlete finally get a skill… only to lose it the very next day. One step forward, two steps back. Skills appear, then disappear, leaving athletes, parents, and coaches in a cycle of confusion and discouragement.

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I’m diving into what I call “Yo-Yo Confidence” — that frustrating cycle of gaining and losing skills — and the hidden habits that actually make mental blocks worse.

As a gymnast, I lived this cycle myself. I was the one crying on the beam, terrified of going backwards, desperate to “just go.” That is why I am passionate about giving hope to the athletes who feel stuck and to the parents and coaches who want to help them.

Through years of coaching and mental performance training, I’ve identified eight common patterns that keep athletes trapped in their mental blocks. These patterns include everything from trying endless “tricks” to force yourself to go, to comparing yourself to fearless teammates, to refusing to take a step back when your brain clearly isn’t ready.

Here’s the truth: forcing, criticizing, or rushing never builds lasting confidence. In fact, it does the opposite. Confidence grows when athletes learn to listen to their brain, take smart steps back, and celebrate progress, no matter how small.

If your athlete is losing skills as quickly as they gain them, this episode will help you break the cycle. Together, we’ll reframe mental blocks as information — not failure — and show you how to create an environment where consistency and confidence can take root.

In this episode, Coach Rebecca talks about:

The eight hidden habits that keep athletes stuck in mental blocks
Why forcing yourself to “just go” backfires
The danger of expecting to start where you left off yesterday
Why celebrating small wins is the key to lasting confidence

“The worst thing you can do for a mental block is force it. The fastest way through is listening to your brain, starting where you are, and building trust one step at a time.” – Rebecca Smith

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

How to Actually Reach Your Goals in Gymnastics Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

There is nothing more frustrating than setting a goal, working hard for it, and then feeling like you are getting nowhere. You show up, put in the effort, and instead of building confidence, you leave practice more discouraged than when you started.

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I’m breaking down why so many athletes get stuck in this cycle and how to set goals that actually move you forward. Instead of focusing on what is “wrong” or what you “can’t do,” I’ll show you how to reframe your goals so that they build confidence, not fear.

At a recent Confident Gymnast Clinic, I worked with a gymnast who swore her switch leaps were terrible. She wanted to “fix” them because they were “bad.” After a few reframes, her goal shifted to simply getting better at her switch leap. That change in language, paired with a focus on small, specific improvements, completely transformed her progress. Within ten turns, she went from discouraged to confident on high beam.

This is the power of focusing on what you can do instead of what you cannot. Progress does not come from criticizing yourself, it comes from celebrating small wins, stacking them over time, and building a foundation of trust in yourself.

If your athlete is stuck in a cycle of frustration, or if you as a parent or coach are unsure how to help them move forward, this episode will give you the tools to change the way you set and support goals.

In this episode, Coach Rebecca talks about:

The trap of negative goal setting.
Why progress starts with point A, not perfection.
Simple shifts athletes, parents, and coaches can make today.
How celebrating small wins builds lasting confidence.

“Instead of focusing on what you cannot do, focus on what you can do, and then ask yourself, what is one thing I can do right now to make it better?” – Rebecca Smith

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Fear isn't Forever - How to Build Lasting Confidence With International Elite Gymnast Céleste Mordenti Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

This week on the PerformHappy Podcast, I had the privilege of chatting with international elite gymnast Céleste Mordenti, the first gymnast from Luxembourg to ever win a FIG World Cup medal.

Céleste’s journey hasn’t been an easy one. As a young gymnast, she rose quickly through the ranks, representing Luxembourg at European and World Championships. But behind the medals and the spotlight, she battled the same struggles so many gymnasts face — fear, mental blocks, and the pressure to be perfect. At one point, she couldn’t even bring herself to swing giants, a skill she’d done for years.

In this episode, Céleste opens up about what it really takes to build lasting confidence. She shares how changing environments, learning to step back, and redefining progress helped her shift from panic and frustration to a place of trust in herself and joy in her sport again.

What makes her story so powerful is that she proves confidence isn’t something you’re born with — it’s something you can build, no matter how stuck or scared you feel.

Whether you’re a gymnast, parent, or coach, you’ll find inspiration and practical takeaways in Céleste’s story — from normalizing fear to celebrating small steps, and ultimately learning that setbacks are just part of the path to success.

In this episode, Coach Rebecca and Céleste talk about:

Competing on the international stage as a teen
What it feels like to get stuck in the cycle of fear and mental blocks
How supportive coaching can completely shift an athlete’s confidence
Why taking a step back is actually the fastest way forward

"Taking a step back isn’t leaving the path to success — it is the path to success." – Céleste Mordenti

Follow Céleste on Instagram: @celestemordenti

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Building a Champion Mindset with Utah Gymnast Avery Neff Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

This week on the PerformHappy Podcast, I’m talking with Utah gymnast Avery Neff — a rising star whose journey proves that resilience, mindset, and belief in yourself can take you further than raw talent ever could.

Avery wasn’t always the clean, confident athlete you see competing on the NCAA stage today. She started as a “floppy” gymnast, throwing skills with no fear but little form. With the help of her coaches, her relentless drive to prove herself, and a mindset shaped by her fearless family, she turned those early struggles into the foundation of a championship career.

In this episode, Avery shares how she developed her growth mindset, how she pushed through one of the toughest moments of her career — spraining both ankles her freshman year — and how she worked her way back when everyone thought her season was over. She also opens up about the importance of setting big goals, visualizing success, and finding joy in the process, even when fear or setbacks creep in.

Whether you’re an athlete learning to push through fear, a parent supporting a child through setbacks, or a coach looking to inspire your athletes, you’ll walk away from this episode with powerful lessons on confidence, perseverance, and chasing big dreams.

In this episode, Avery and Coach Rebecca talk about:

Why resilience matters more than natural talent
The mindset that helped her recover from two sprained ankles in record time
Why believing in yourself (and saying your goals out loud) changes everything
How gymnastics taught her life lessons that will carry far beyond the gym

"If you’re not saying it, somebody else is — and somebody else is going to get it before you do." – Avery Neff

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

Helping Kids Navigate the Pressure of Upcoming Competitions Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

This week on the PerformHappy Podcast, I’m talking to parents who are navigating one of the hardest parts of raising athletes: watching your kids struggle with disappointment, pressure, and even toxic coaching environments.

As parents, our instinct is to protect our kids from heartbreak and setbacks. But what if the very challenges we want to shield them from are the ones that help them build resilience for life? Using clinical psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy’s “bench” analogy, I share how letting kids sit with their disappointment — instead of rushing to fix it — prepares them for the bigger benches of adulthood, from heartbreak to career setbacks.

I also dive into an important and difficult topic: what to do if your child’s coach crosses the line into emotional abuse. I share guidance on how to recognize red flags, when to approach a coach, and when to go directly to gym owners or SafeSport.

Whether you’re supporting your child through a tough season, or wondering how to handle an unsafe coaching environment, this episode will give you tools to respond with calm, connection, and courage.

In this episode, Coach Rebecca talks about:

Dr. Becky Kennedy’s “bench” analogy for building resilience
How disappointment today builds confidence for tomorrow
Recognizing the signs of emotionally abusive coaching
When to have a conversation, how to approach it, and when it’s time to leave

“Your challenge as a parent is not to take your child’s resilience from them by trying to move them off the hard bench. Sit with them on that bench, let them have their feelings, and trust that they’re building the strength they’ll need for life.” – Coach Rebecca

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

From Injuries to Easterns - A Gymnast’s Comeback Story with Gymnast Arya & Sara Rose Page Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

This week on the PerformHappy Podcast, I’m talking to athletes and parents who are in the thick of it — setback after setback, injury after injury, and feeling like the dream is slipping away. If that’s you, I want you to meet Arya and her mom, Sara.

Arya spent years navigating injuries, mental blocks, and environments that didn’t bring out her best. She battled fear of re-injury, lost skills, and even walked into the gym in tears some days. Through it all, she held onto her dream of competing college gymnastics.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Arya went from feeling stuck and unsupported to thriving in a new gym environment, regaining her skills, and finally achieving one of her biggest goals: competing at Eastern Nationals.

Whether you’re an athlete facing challenges, a parent supporting one, or a coach looking to help your gymnasts overcome obstacles, you’ll walk away with powerful lessons about resilience, environment, and finding joy in the sport again.

In this episode, Arya, Sara, and Coach Rebecca talk about:

Why environment matters just as much as mental training for success
The moment she knew it was time to change gyms (and how she found the courage to do it)
Why focusing on small goals and loving the sport again made all the difference
How she made it to Eastern Nationals — and why it was even more meaningful after years of setbacks

“When I wasn’t happy, I wasn’t doing well. But once I started loving gymnastics again, everything got easier.” – Arya Page

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

How to Get Your Skill Back Before Season Starts Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

This week on the PerformHappy Podcast, I’m talking to athletes who are stuck. You know you’re capable of doing the skill—you’ve done it before—but for some reason, it’s just not happening right now. Maybe you’re dealing with the pressure of move-ups, recovering from a past fall, or your brain is simply hitting the brakes. You’re not alone, and there is a way through it that doesn’t involve just pushing harder or trying to force your way over the mental block.

In fact, trying to "just do it" is usually the opposite of what works. In this episode, I’m sharing what actually helps: starting with ditching perfection, tuning into what your brain needs, and building momentum through small wins. Whether you're the athlete going through it, or a parent or coach supporting someone who is, you’ll walk away with clear, actionable tools to make progress—even when progress feels slow.

In this episode, Coach Rebecca talks about:

How to shift your focus from perfection to progress
The power of treating each turn like an experiment
What to do instead of comparing yourself to your best day
Why communication with coaches and parents is important to getting unstuck
One essential mindset shift for parents

“When you stop judging every turn and start treating it like data, you actually build the confidence you’ve been chasing.” – Coach Rebecca

Join my FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/completeperformancecoaching/

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