Becky Sauerbrunn - Self-Critique Pulls Her from Flow State - Minutes on Mastery

Summary3 min read

Episode Overview

Theme:
In this episode of Minutes on Mastery, host Michael Gervais speaks with Becky Sauerbrunn, two-time World Cup champion, about how self-critique and hypercritical thinking can inhibit the experience of flow state for elite performers. The discussion centers around the balance between constructive critique and the freedom required for peak performance, highlighting practical techniques Becky uses to manage her self-critical tendencies.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Double-Edged Sword of Self-Critique

Self-Critique as a Performance Tool:
Michael Gervais points out that while being self-critical or experiencing anxiety can help an athlete improve ("get you good"), it can also become an obstacle, preventing them from achieving true freedom in performance ("get you free").
- Quote:
  "Self critique will get you good. Some anxiety will get you good, but it doesn't get you free. And when we get free is when we really embrace our best, you know?"
  — Michael Gervais [00:12]
Becky's Limited Flow State:
Becky Sauerbrunn agrees, identifying that excessive self-critique is why she only reaches a true flow state about 5% of the time.
- Quote:
  "That's probably why that I say 5% when I get into that to that flow zone."
  — Becky Sauerbrunn [00:35]

Recognizing and Managing Hypercritical Moments

Awareness as the Foundation:
Becky and Michael discuss how the first crucial step is becoming aware of the moments when self-critique emerges.
- Quote:
  "The whole game is awareness. If you're not aware of this thing, you can't do anything about it."
  — Michael Gervais [01:01]
A Lifelong Process:
Becky acknowledges managing internal criticism is an ongoing, lifelong journey rather than a problem with a fixed solution.
- Quote:
  "Lifelong journey right there."
  — Becky Sauerbrunn [00:59]

Becky's Practical Tools for Managing Self-Critique

Analyzing the Critique:
Becky breaks down her self-criticism by determining whether it's related to a technical skill or her emotional state. This step helps her respond more effectively.
Quadrant Approach:
She mentally narrows the issue to a "quadrant" (e.g., technical vs. emotional), which allows a targeted response.
Concrete Next Steps:
For technical issues, her main tactic is to simplify her next action—focusing on doing the next basic thing well rather than overcomplicating.
- Examples: Making a tackle or connecting a simple first pass.
- Quote:
  "If it's a technical issue, my skill is like, do the next thing. Simply don't overcomplicate it. For me, it's like make a tackle, connect your first pass...the next time it's not going to be a mistake, it's just going to be a simple pass. It might not lead to a goal, but you know what? We kept possession and that's, you know, a check in the win."
  — Becky Sauerbrunn [01:24]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the ongoing nature of mental mastery:
"Lifelong journey right there."
— Becky Sauerbrunn [00:59]
On simplifying post-error response:
"Just do the next thing. Simply. Don't overcomplicate it...next time it's not going to be a mistake, it's just going to be a simple pass."
— Becky Sauerbrunn [01:24]
On the foundational importance of self-awareness:
"The whole game is awareness. If you're not aware of this thing, you can't do anything about it."
— Michael Gervais [01:01]

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:12 — Michael discusses the ceiling created by self-critique and anxiety.
00:35 — Becky comments on why her flow state is so rare.
00:57 — Becky calls the process a "lifelong journey."
01:01 — Michael and Becky discuss the primacy of self-awareness.
01:24 — Becky shares her specific strategies for overcoming self-critique during games.

Summary

This episode offers a concise, insightful look at the mental side of elite performance. Becky Sauerbrunn is candid about how difficult, yet essential, it is to manage self-critical thoughts. She outlines her continuous process: growing awareness of critical moments, diagnosing the issue, and then relying on simple, concrete actions to regain confidence and momentum on the field. For athletes and performers alike, Becky's experience illustrates that mastering the mind—and not overcomplicating after mistakes—can be just as important as mastering the game itself.

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Transcript10 lines

[00:00]
Michael Gervais
Minutes on Mastery is brought to you by Athletic Greens. This is two time World cup champion Becky Sauerbrun on the Finding Mastery podcast with Michael Gervais sharing how self critique gets in the way of flow state.
[00:12]
An insight that I have. I'd love for you to chin check this if you will, but self critique will get you good. Some anxiety will get you good, but it doesn't get you free. And when we get free is when we really embrace our best, you know? So like, good to great model Chin. Check me if I'm off on that for you.
[00:36]
Becky Sauerbrun
No, I think that's correct. And that's, that's probably why that I say 5% when I get into that to that flow zone.
[00:42]
Michael Gervais
Okay, so then it's, so then your work, if I'm under tracking correctly, your work is really about like, okay, well, I need to recognize when I'm hypercritical or whatever I'm going to call this thing and then have the right skills and tools to say, ah, get over it.
[00:57]
Becky Sauerbrun
Yeah.
[00:58]
Michael Gervais
Is that. Yeah.
[00:59]
Becky Sauerbrun
Lifelong. Lifelong journey right there.
[01:01]
Michael Gervais
Lifelong journey. How do you do it? Like when it works? Well, there's lots of skills. What are the ones that are working for you? When you first, the whole game is awareness. If you're not aware of this thing, you can't do anything about it. So step one, awareness, but then step two on the skill part. What are some of the skills that you employ? Whether it's in the moment or. Well, it's always in the moment. Strike that. What are some of the skills you employ?
[01:24]
Becky Sauerbrun
If I'm being super self critical, I try to analyze like, what part of the game am I being so critical about? Is it a technical issue? Am I emotionally not in the right mindset? And so from there I can kind of narrow it down to one of like a quadrant. And then if it's a technical issue, my skill is like, do the next thing. Simply don't overcomplicate it. For me, it's like make a tackle, connect your first pass. And so that's what I try to do after every mistake. Like the next time it's not going to be a mistake, it's just going to be a simple pass. It might not lead to a goal, but you know what? We kept possession and that's, you know, a check in the win. The winner.
[02:06]
Michael Gervais
For the full Finding Mastery podcast, head over to findingmastery.net or check us out on Apple Podcast. And for a special offer from Athletic greens, head to athleticgreens.com finding mastery.