Mentality Wins: The Athlete's Playbook for Thriving in Sport and Life

by Jonathan Jenkins, Kimberly O'Brien

Every athlete knows the grind of training. Early mornings, late nights, and endless reps. What separates good from great, however, is what happens between the ears. Pressure, self-doubt, perfectionism, and fear of failure can shake even the most prepared competitors, and most athletes are never taught how to handle those moments in a healthy, effective way.

Mentality The Athlete’s Playbook for Thriving in Sport and Life fills that gap. Written by two former athletes turned clinicians focused on athlete mental health and performance, this book translates the science into simple routines you can apply in real time. Instead of vague advice about “being mentally tough,” you get specific skills to quiet your inner critic, manage performance anxiety, reset after mistakes, and stay present when the pressure is highest.

These tools come from authors who understand the mental game at the highest levels. Jonathan Jenkins, PsyD, CMPC, has spent more than a decade supporting athletes through Massachusetts General Brigham Hospital and serves as Team Clinical and Performance Psychologist for the New England Patriots, Behavioral Sport Psychologist for the Boston Red Sox, and a sport psychology consultant for the Para Rowing Foundation. A member of the Harvard Medical School teaching community and a former college lacrosse co-captain, he brings both clinical expertise and an athlete’s perspective to every page.

Kimberly H. McManama O’Brien, PhD, LICSW, is the founder and director of Unlimited Resilience, a mental health practice for athletes by athletes, and the co-founder and co-director of Athletes Better Together, an athlete peer mentoring program. She has co-authored multiple articles and book chapters on adolescent mental health and suicide prevention, received the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Young Investigator Research Award, and is a former Harvard hockey co-captain and national champion, bringing both research rigor and lived experience to the book’s approach.

Organized into four key pillars—Focus, Flow, Finish, and Flourish—Mentality Wins helps you train your mind with the same intention you bring to strength and conditioning or skill work. You will learn how to prepare for big moments, find a steady rhythm in competition, respond to setbacks without spiraling, and use your sport as a place to grow as a whole person, not just as a performer.

Whether you are stepping onto the field, teeing off on the golf course, taking the ice or court, or supporting athletes as a coach or parent, this book offers practical mental skills you can use right away. The tools are built for real quick resets between plays, routines you can build into daily practice, and reflections that enhance performance, well-being, and resilience.

If you want to manage stress, sharpen focus, and compete with more confidence, Mentality Wins will show you how to build a mentality that holds up when it matters most—in sport and in life.

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 26, 2026

Reviews

[Krystle Robleski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just for athletes but anyone that wants to participate in a little self reflection and self improvement. Short but sweet - like a meta-analysis of all things mental health for being competent in what you love.

[Shannon Rolston · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the parent of athletes, the wife of a professional coach, and a wellness practitioner, I found Mentality Wins to be incredibly practical and easy to connect with. The book made me think differently about how mental skills are introduced and reinforced with athletes in real, everyday moments. I especially liked the four-pillar structure - Focus, Flow, Finish, and Flourish - which kept the ideas clear and manageable. The stories woven throughout made the concepts feel real, not theoretical. Two ideas that really stood out were the distinction between rituals and routines and the Stop, Start, Continue framework; simple tools that athletes can actually use without overthinking. I also appreciated that every chapter ends with a “skill to try,” so athletes can immediately put the ideas into action. The tone is practical, relatable, and grounded in real experience, and I’d recommend this book to young athletes, their parents, and anyone who supports them. I was lucky to receive early access to the manuscript, have purchased a copy myself, and plan to purchase additional copies as gifts. This review reflects my honest experience with the book.

[Maureen Brogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a MUST read for any athlete who hopes to continue a sport in college. As a Licensed Professional Counselor and a parent of a former D1 athlete, I wish this was available for both of us to read prior to committing. The examples in the book are so real , it is as if the athlete is in our living room sharing their story. This book shares what a healthy environment looks like. Before an official D1 visit, I wish Emily had more insight on how to handle the mental anguish and pressure. As a parent, knowing how to encourage your athlete to get support after an injury is paramount. Thank you for taking all your experiences with athletes and putting it down with paper and pen.

Maureen, LPC, DAAETS

[Brendan McGoldrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this in prep to meet Dr. Jenkins at an event he is speaking at. I think the book is easily accessible for any level of reader. I think it is great as a coach to learn some of these strategies so that I can better help my athletes work through things, and I think it is a great way to empower athletes to be at their best as well.