The Secret to Happiness is Improvement | An Interview with Riley Jensen

Although Riley Jensen enjoys the arts, music, and a good, sappy
romantic comedy, he is usually mistaken for a jock. Riley started
as a quarterback at Utah State University and currently works full
time as a sport psychology consultant, or mental performance coach,
addressing the innermost fears of most athletes: failure. He enjoys
giving athletes, corporate employees, and young people the tools to
handle a stressful and frightening world. Riley went back to school
at the over-the-hill age of 40 (it’s the new the new 30, right?) to
get his MS in Sport and Performance Psychology at the University of
Utah. He is married to the wonderful and talented Georgann Manolis
Jensen and they have three beautiful children. Riley served his
mission in Marseille, France, and his dream is to serve another
mission in France one day, and to enjoy laughing and watching his
children make some of the mistakes he made. Highlights 02:20 Kurt
introduces Riley and his work. 04:00 Riley shares his background of
playing football and serving a mission. 08:30 Riley describes what
he does as a mental performance coach. 12:00 What do mental
performance skills look like in real life? What are those skills?
18:30 The definition of happiness is improvement. 21:30 What’s the
number one way to build confidence? Take small steps out of your
confidence everyday. 23:40 As a leader, we want everyone to improve
and we want to guide them. However, we have to start with
ourselves. It’s not about doing more. Sometimes it’s just about
your attitude and enthusiasm about what you are doing. 29:00
Leadership is really about embracing the gospel into ourselves and
then using the spirit that is within us to help people with little
steps. 30:00 In Greek, enthusiasm means that God is within you. Do
you have enthusiasm in your calling? Do you know what your purpose
is? 35:30 Measuring confidence. Helping others to have confidence.
46:15 Dealing with anxiety in leadership. Riley shares examples and
tips to help calm the anxiety. 53:30 Have you tried singing hymns
to erase the bad thoughts and calm anxiety? How else can you get
focused on the positive? 58:30 Anxiety is inversely proportional to
confidence. So anything that you can do to lower anxiety will also
strengthen your confidence and motivation. 59:10 Motivational
interviewing or reflective listening. Riley gives examples. 1:10:00
Resources that Riley offers and where you can find him 1:11:30
Riley’s final thoughts and testimony Links Riley Jensen Performance
Group Twitter @RileyJensen Mindset Matters Podcast Read the
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