Why Your Mindset Is Key To Conquering Fear, with Cori Myka

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Today I’m joined by Cori Myka, founder of Calm Within Adult Swim. With over 25 years experience, Cori specializes in helping adults overcome their fears and conquer the skill of swimming with her remarkable blend of mental and physical training techniques.

In this conversation, we explore how the swimming pool is the ‘lab for life’ and Cori shares her insights from her work helping adults conquer fears, learn new skills, and build resilience – lessons that apply well beyond the pool.

In this episode, we discuss:

How both in swimming and in many facets of life, there is often a mismatch between our external reality and internal narrative. By intentionally bringing attention to your internal state, you can bring them into alignment.

One way to foster this alignment is by noticing your internal narrative, staying present and celebrating small victories. Sometimes simply ‘treading water’ or surviving is enough – and that’s worth acknowledging.

The importance of honouring your willingness to make changes in your life when you do attempt something new or step outside of your comfort zone. The hardest part is signing up and showing up – so give yourself credit for starting.

Our tendency to lean towards negative self-talk and a lack of compassion when we attempt new things, and how this is often the biggest thing that goes wrong. Cori highlights the importance of intentionally retraining your brain to be kinder to yourself – she suggests asking yourself in advance, “what kind of thoughts do I want to have?” before approaching a challenge.

The power of a positive mindset – from Cori’s teaching experience, she’s found that success is 80% mental and 20% physical and that this is the foundation of change. Embrace an “ugly start”, talk to yourself with the kindness you’d have as a parent to a small child, and remember that with the right mindset, you can achieve anything is possible!

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