We don’t need to force ourselves to be present. We often hear the phrase, “you have to live in the present moment.” But what happens when this becomes another thing to do?Another task to check off the list.Something else to evaluate.Are we doing it right? When we’re wired for achievement—getting things done, improving, moving forward—it’sContinue reading “Presence Follows Safety”
Author Archives: Joseph Foright, MS
How Perfectionism Pushed Me to the Breaking Point
A Lesson in Lived Experience I vividly remember a conversation I had with a fellow soccer coach years ago. She had played at an extremely high level – even training alongside U.S. legend Mia Hamm – and was a director at our club. She mentioned one of the other directors and dismissed his coaching abilityContinue reading “How Perfectionism Pushed Me to the Breaking Point”
Is Your Nervous System Stuck in Overdrive?
How to recognize the signs and reset with breath and gentle movement The first thing I notice is my breath—shallow, high in my chest. My thoughts start racing, but I don’t always catch it; years of rumination trained me to call this “normal.” In that headspace, real and perceived threats blur together. Then my bodyContinue reading “Is Your Nervous System Stuck in Overdrive?”
Why I Focus on Stress & Perfectionism in my Work
Understanding the Hidden Feedback Loop Between Stress, Tension, and Pain Why do I focus so much on stress and perfectionism as a stretch and movement specialist? Because this is what I hear all the time: “I’m working out. I’m foam rolling. I’m stretching. But my body still feels tight, tense, or stuck in a loop.”Continue reading “Why I Focus on Stress & Perfectionism in my Work”
Perfectionism & the Need to Control
How difficult is it for you to adjust when things do not go according to plan? Are you able to easily pivot, adjusting to circumstances while searching for value in the setback or changes? Or does your entire world constrict, leaving you fuming or blasting anyone perceived as responsible for the forced adjustment to yourContinue reading “Perfectionism & the Need to Control”
Perfectionism: Understanding What Constant Stress Does to Your Body
Are you often stressed? Feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders? High expectations constantly on your mind? Ruminating about mistakes that you’ve made or areas you feel you are falling short? Maybe you feel tired… like, a lot… As in, difficulty getting up in the morning, struggling to find energy toContinue reading “Perfectionism: Understanding What Constant Stress Does to Your Body”
Perfectionism & the Ruminating Mind
I was 23 when I recognized a serious problem… Speaking with a friend, I told him of the issue, “it doesn’t matter what is happening in my life – I could have 99 amazing things going for me, but one thing causing stress or heartache, that’s what my mind focuses on incessantly.” He replied withContinue reading “Perfectionism & the Ruminating Mind”
When Movement is No Longer Medicine
One thing I’ve learned from personal experience and insane amounts of academic research is that perfectionists are absolutely horrible at caring for their body. Despite often being active, fit, and even obsessive with their appearance, interestingly, this frequently comes at the expense of their health. We have to stop and think, when activities meant toContinue reading “When Movement is No Longer Medicine”
Hey Perfectionists, Enjoy the Process!
Ahhhh… the joy of achievement! It’s so gratifying, is it not!? … Or is it? … How you answer this question likely has to do with how much you resonate with the term perfectionist. Perfectionists tend to be highly driven individuals, setting lofty goals and pushing toward accomplishment at any cost. They know what theyContinue reading “Hey Perfectionists, Enjoy the Process!”
Moving On From Our Past
Here’s the thing about pain. There is only one way to truly get rid of it. And it’s not stuffing things down, staying busy, or ignoring what we are facing. While this might prevent pain in the moment, it will reappear, again and again, in some form, and in ways that are unexpected to youContinue reading “Moving On From Our Past”