Overcoming Anxiety and Fear with Olympic Medalist Ori Sasson

On this episode of The Connected Leadership Podcast, Andy Lopata is joined by two-time Israeli Olympic medalist Ori Sasson, who openly discusses his battle with anxiety and how he overcame it to achieve success. Despite his struggles, Sasson won two Olympic bronze medals in judo and now runs Olympic Mindset, a motivational speaking company where he shares his journey of facing anxiety and fear of failure. Ori opens up about how anxiety affected his sports career and how it continues to impact people during the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. He shares his personal story, starting from his first judo competition, where he experienced extreme nervousness but found a burning desire to prove himself. This ambition drove him forward despite his crippling anxiety and fear of failure. According to Sasson, it is possible to live with anxiety and still be successful. He discusses the strategies he used to manage his anxiety, such as being kinder to himself, viewing losses as opportunities for growth, and developing mental toughness during fights. He emphasises the significance of body language, mindset changes, and treating failure as a stepping stone rather than an endpoint. Transitioning from sports to motivational speaking, Andy and Ori discuss how he uses the coping skills he learned as an athlete to his new profession. He emphasises the power of mindset in overcoming adversities and that one's mind might tell stories, but it's up to the individual whether they allow their bodies to follow. Sasson shares his experiences with the downsides of seeking immediate gratification and the path to long-term success. He stresses the importance of understanding and rationalising issues to combat anxiety and mentions how obsession with short-term results often hampers building lasting relationships. These insights from the highly pressurised world of competitive sports offer crucial lessons in focusing on the present instead of longing for instant gratification. Ori openly discusses his Olympic journey, highlighting the need to reinvent oneself and adjust approaches to remain competitive. He notes that distractions like social media can hinder focus and describes how he overcame this by deleting his social media accounts during the Rio Olympics. The post-Rio 2016 period saw Ori Sasson becoming a national celebrity, which brought its own distractions. He emphasises the importance of maintaining professionalism and staying focused, lessons he learned firsthand during this phase. Additionally, he acknowledges that managing anxiety requires constant effort and awareness, as it never truly disappears. Undoubtedly, Ori Sasson's anecdotes provide valuable insights into the world of professional sports and personal and professional resilience. His conversation with Andy Lopata is a must-listen for anyone seeking honest reflections on overcoming adversity, managing anxiety, and striving for long-term success. Connect with Andy Lopata Website Connect with Ori Sasson Website LinkedIn Instagram