Every athlete dreads the moment when he or she faces an injury. There’s a new book out that’s a must have for all athletes. Rebound by Carrie Jackson Cheadle and Cindy Kuzma is a “practical guide for building mental resilience” that helps to explain and provide tools to manage the psychological side to injury recovery.
The book combines stories of athletes who’ve negotiated injuries with research and clinical expertise. Each chapter has a theme, an easy to digest summary and “mental drills.” I love the athlete stories and their “rebound” moments. The “a ha” moments help you to see how to use the mental skills in a practical way.
Rebound is relatable and helpful for injuries and any other obstacle in your path. I’ve used some of these techniques in past injury recovery, training and in my regular life, too. I now have more tools to use in the future when dealing with challenges. I dog eared a ton of pages to use the exercises and tips when I need them.
Q & A with Cindy Kuzma
I had the chance to sit down with Cindy Kuzma after I read the book to discuss the book.
Cindy told me that the thing that struck her the most after completing the book was a common thread. She couldn’t believe how many athletes told her “this experience was terrible. It was the worst thing that every happened to me” but they were universally grateful for who they became on the other side of it.
E: Was there anything that surprised you while working on Rebound?
CK: “You don’t know which way you’re going to bounce or rebound. It didn’t seem to depend on the severity of the injury, time in an athlete’s career or the level of the competitor. Responses differed based on personality, resources and support.”
We discussed how cool it was that the mental skills activities can work across many life situations and both agreed that we can all increase the skills in our “toolboxes.”
E. Do you have any favorite skills to use as a result of working on the book?
CK: “There are so many good ones. Some I’ve found really useful are:“
- “Obstacles to Opportunities” (pp 46-7). You break down an obstacle into steps and work to move from thinking ‘this is a huge problem’ to ‘this can be an opportunity.’ It helps you shift your thinking in a productive way – like creating a roadmap.
- “Time Travel Log” (pp 87-8). This is an exercise where you write down negative self talk about things you could have done differently and then work to let it go. It helps you move from focusing on the past to what you can do that’s more constructive.
- “Thoughtstopper” (pp 156-7) This involves visualizing blocking and replacing negative thoughts. [Note: This one seemed woo woo to me but I kind of dig this idea and I’ll try it]
- “Build Your Team” (p 133) Working to express your needs and asking for the support you need from the people who support you.
I loved the narratives. One of the stories that resonated with me was Olympic freeski halfpipe gold medalist, David Wise (pp 85-6). One of his personal philosophies is “Joy is a choice. Happiness is a reaction to good circumstances, but joy us choosing to be content no matter what happens to you.” He used mindfulness and mantras to overcome performance anxiety.
E. Did you have a favorite narrative?
CK: “I can’t pick a favorite! I loved something that Brandon Copeland (NFL player pp 26-7) who told me that he kept a file of positive feedback to remind himself of the best of times. He also kept of file of the “haters” to fuel his fire. It also helped him to realize that the proportion of positive feedback greatly outweighed the negative. “
E. This is great! What are you most excited about with this launch?
CK: “It’s exciting that this topic is getting more attention. Mental health for athletes is so important – whether they’re injured or not.”
I’m so glad that I got an early copy and got to catch up with Cindy one on one. If you’re in Chicago, you can come to the Rebound launch today (October 10) from 6 – 8 PM at Road Runner Sports (1435 North Kingsbury Street). You can also watch on Facebook Live from anywhere.
Do you want to read Rebound? I got a review copy and also ordered a copy. I’ll send my copy to a lucky reader. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. The giveaway ends on 10/17. A winner will be selected and notified on 10/18. Winner must have a US postal address, be 18 years of age or older and the offer is void where prohibited.
a Rafflecopter giveawayYou can order Rebound on Amazon. You can also join the Injured Athletes Club on Facebook or listen to their podcast. Follow Carrie on Instagram at @feedtheathlete and Cindy at @cindykuzma.
Please note: I received this book at no cost for editorial consideration. I was not otherwise compensated for this post. All opinions are my own. This post contains an Amazon affiliate link. If you use this link, I’ll receive a small commission.