The Pause
Performance for the Mind

Behind you for what’s ahead. In your head.

We’re here to give confidence. Because, if people had more courage than fear, the world would be a better place. But sometimes it’s not fear, that holds us back from taking the next step – it’s a bad mood, a dull state of mind, a lack of recognition or the feeling of not being good enough. 

What we need is a conversation about this topic, to fight the stigma and provide security. But also access, support, and resources to help people enhance their mental health. And give them confidence for what lies ahead.

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The next step is a click

We got behind the Olympic & Paralympic Movements to inspire the world with confidence. We accompany people taking the next step and learn how to enforce mental health. And we chose not to portray another athlete, but the people behind the spotlight. The ones, that help them face their fears, their bad moods, dull moments and doubts: The mental coaches.

We asked them to tell us their stories, to share their view on mental health, and to provide us with some advice for our daily lives.

So lean back – and click play!

Episode 1

  Episode 1. Discovering Resilience

Mareike Dottschadis is fascinated with improving people’s mental and physical performance. And then allowing them to fail, to have negative emotions. We discover resilience when we realize the value that lies in pausing and taking a step back.

04:22 min.

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Cover Discovering Resilience. "There's not the need to move forward all the time." Mareike Dottschadis

About Mareike Dottschadis:

After spontaneously running the Berlin Marathon, Mareike became involved with competitive long-distance running, graduated with a M.Sc. Sport Psychology and began her career as a sports psychology coach.

She is now working at the Olympic Training Centre Brandenburg and is coaching German and US athletes for upcoming competitions and challenges.

Her goal is to empower people to find their own solutions along their individual journey. In her work she notices again and again that high-performing athletes essentially face similar challenges to everybody else – but what makes them successful are the strategies they use and internalize through constant practice.

Episode 2

  Episode 2: Mindful in the moment

Niall Breslin is most passionate about the connection between mindfulness and music therapy. He teaches athletes to be fully present when performing – all with simple tricks and the help of music.

04:43 min.

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Cover: Mindful in the Moment. "The best thing to do is to use your body to calm down your mind." Niall Breslin

About Niall Breslin:

Drawing from his experience as a touring musician, former professional rugby and football player and as an academic Niall is known for his expert knowledge and bona-fide authenticity. Now he’s one of Ireland's most prominent mental health advocates and has helped to pioneer a transformation in its public perception. He also found success as the voice of Spotify’s brand new mindfulness podcast series, as well as author of an award-winning book and producer of several documentaries about mental health.

He sure is a key figure in the evolving conversation around mental health.

Episode 3

  Episode 3: To Disconnect and Reconnect

Alain Goudsmet defines not only positive goals like gold medals, but also identifies negative goals. It’s all about connecting and disconnecting. People are over-connected and always busy. But "busy is the new stupid".

04:54 min.

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Cover: Disconnect and Reconnect. "My role was to prepare the team to lose." Alain Goudsmet

About Alain Goudsmet:

For more than 20 years Alain has coached top performers on the right way to find and keep energized in high-pressure situations. From the athletic playing field to the corporate office, he has accompanied teams and individuals, like the Belgian national hockey teams on their journey in Beijing and London to global companies to perform with peak mental fitness. Alain has founded the Mentally Fit Institute to bring scientists and specialists together in releasing the energetic potential of human beings.

The secret sauce? Alain is teaching people how to disconnect and reconnect – and this couldn’t be more relevant in times like these.