When I sought out mental performance support, I was struggling to believe in my abilities and to stop the negative self-talk that went on in my head almost every time I stepped on a starting line. So, when I originally started working with my Mental Performance Consultant, my biggest focus was being able to make it through a race without my mind taking over and telling me I could not. It did not even cross my mind that through mental performance counselling, running races could actually be fun and enjoyable, not just part of the sport that I had to get through. By working with my MPC, I have been able to learn and develop skills to improve my mental abilities in sport, but I have also been able to apply these skills to many other areas of life and to improve my overall mindset. Since learning these skills, which have become the framework of my mental performance work, I have been able to bring any situation I am dealing with to my session with my MPC and use the various skills I have learned to work through the situation. Of course, there are still bad races and bad seasons, but through all the challenges of being an athlete I no longer let a time on a result sheet define who I am as an athlete or as a person. Track and field is widely considered to be a very mental sport, yet I believe a very small portion of the track and field community actually puts a lot of weight on improving their mental performance, or sees the tremendous benefits in doing so. You do not have to need help to see an MPC. Just like physical performance, everyone can work on and improve their mental performance. Through mental performance support, I regained my passion for track and eliminated the pressure I used to put on myself. If I had not sought out support, I do not think I would have accomplished as much in sport as I have now, but more importantly, I do not think I would have been able to come back stronger after tough times that inevitably occur in sport.