Rachael Popcak Isaac developed the Success and Performance Coaching Program and is our guest on this episode. Rachael grew up as a competitive figure skater and dancer, so she knows the love of competition. She has also experienced the intense pressure, anxiety, and stress inherent in sports or any high-pressure endeavor and this is the part of competition she did not like. Early in Rachael’s career, she leaned on her faith and the love God had for her, and something shifted in her spirit and this new perspective changed her life. Rachael was able to enjoy and flourish in her God-given talents.

Rachael is the daughter of Dr. Greg Popcak, founder of CatholicCounselors.com and the Success and Performance Coaching Program is a division of her father’s company. Rachael is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and uses her skills and experience to help people who are in highly competitive, high-performance, high-pressure, high expectation, and/or high stress professions. Her clientele ranges from high school to professional athletes, dancers, doctors, lawyers, executives, anyone who has a position with high responsibility and high expectations. Common among these are people who have unbalanced competitive professions where stress and anxiety are the norm and which, if left unchecked, can lead to unhappy, anxious, and stress-filled lives apart from their field of endeavor. That is where Rachael’s new program can help.

Like the other services offered on CatholicCounselor.com, the Success and Performance Coaching Program uses tele-services to help clients achieve their goals. Unlike sports psychologists or other secular counseling services, CatholicCounselors.com bases their services on St. John Paul II’s teaching on the Theology of the Body. Rachael explains the importance of integrating mind, body, and spirit in the life of a competitor. Disintegration in a competitor can lead to failure, stress, and frustration in their endeavor and can spread to other areas of a person’s life. Integration can lead to a sense of calm and confidence that can make success much more attainable and offers a more fulfilling life outside a person’s field of endeavor. Rachael explains what to expect in counseling and the benefit of incorporating faith in the process. An added gem, Rachael explains her favorite definition of “confidence” and why it’s important in the life of a competitor (or anybody). Rachael also talks about how most competitors experience unique pressures, expectations, experiences, and their language might be a little different than people with other counseling needs and that’s the niche the Success and Performance Coaching Program aims to fill.

For everyone who enjoys participating in sports, or those who enjoy watching sports, Rachael suggests fostering and maintaining healthy relationships around sports is most important. Rachael ends with a heartfelt story where she experienced a time when fierce competition got in the way of enjoying her God-given gifts and those of others. It’s summed up in her adopted motto “I have nothing to prove and everything to share” and where it should lead us all… toward true confidence in relationships with others. It’s a motto that works everywhere, on or off the field.

Links:

Success and Performance Coaching - Catholic Counselors

Home - Catholic Counselors

https://catholiccounselors.com/playing-for-glory-how-theology-of-the-body-transforms-the-way-athletes-compete/

#catholicsports, #coachingforsuccess, #successandperformancecoaching, #godandathletes, #sportstheologyofthebody

Raquel Rose is the founder of the Little Rose Shop and is our guest on this episode. In addition to running her own business, Raquel is a wife and the mother of one girl and three boys. Growing up, she liked all sports, especially basketball. She tried to make the basketball team in college, even as a walk-on, but didn’t make it. Raquel and her friend tried out for the rugby team and made it. She recalls her experiences as a rugby player. Even though she didn’t make the basketball team, Raquel’s experience with getting on the rugby team taught her that your plan is not always God’s plan. She learned that God provides other opportunities.

At age 21, Raquel found out that she was pregnant and shares the feelings she had at that time in her life. It was at Mass, during the consecration of the Eucharist, that Raquel thought she was a failure but felt the deep love Jesus had for her. She explains what she experienced at this life-changing time in her life. Raquel also found acceptance from her parents and the few friends she confided in. Her experience at Mass and with the Eucharist caused a powerful “reconversion” in her faith journey and her life would be forever changed. As a single mother, Raquel began coaching and observed that while the drive to win and achieve success is common in sports, she found and emphasized that sports also provide opportunities for personal development.

Raquel started to make items to help remind her to pray often. She also made things to keep her little daughter busy and quiet during Mass. This led to her founding the Little Rose Shop. Raquel eventually got married and had more children. She launched herself into being a faithful wife, full-time mother and successful business owner. Raquel explains the mission of her business and what the Little Rose Shop offers. She holds a master’s degree in School Counseling and applies her knowledge and faith to the development of the products at the Little Rose Shop. Raquel talks about the how the “Ignatius Examen” was corroborated by her counseling studies as a great way to reduce anxiety and depression in life. Raquel also talks about how St. Thérèse of Lisieux is important to her.

Although the Little Rose Shop is predominantly geared toward moms, Raquel discusses how the website offers a few things for men. She also suggests that men can find gifts to help uplift the woman in their lives. Raquel talks about how sports can help children learn healthy virtues and relationships, sporting events can also bring families together. Raquel ends by encouraging listeners to say “yes” to God all the time, even when it's difficult. Her initial “yes” to God has brought much fruition into her life: a great marriage, family, and a thriving business.

Raquel’s life is a great example of Romans 8:28: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Links:

Little Rose Shop: Catholic Christian gift and book shop for moms, kids, and baby

The Eucharist | USCCB

The Daily Examen - IgnatianSpirituality.com

St. Thérèse of Lisieux: The Little Flower Who Showed Us the Way of Love – Catholic Online News

#catholicsports, #littleroseshop, #trustingod, #godneverfails

NOVUS 1:12 Project - Dominican Republic - Baseball & Volleyball in Banica, Dominican Republic