Presence Before Performance: The 1% Shift That Can Change Your Life | Mikael Avatar Stjernvall
What happens when you achieve the thing you thought would make you fulfilled and discover it doesn't? Mikael Avatar Stjernvall is a Swedish Paralympian, coach, artist and Inner Freedom Architect whose extraordinary life has challenged conventional ideas about performance, resilience and success. Born with cerebral palsy, Mikael went on to represent Sweden at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games, where he recorded a 4.98-metre long jump a performance he describes as a T35 world record that stood for nearly 12 years. But reaching the pinnacle of sporting achievement taught him something unexpected: External success doesn't necessarily create inner fulfilment. In this episode of The Resilience Movement Podcast, Mikael and I explore what he calls “presence before performance” the idea that meaningful change begins not with doing more, but with becoming more conscious of how we are already living. We talk about the enormous amount of life we spend operating on autopilot, why distraction costs us more energy than we realise, and what can happen when we deliberately interrupt the habits and assumptions we've stopped questioning. Mikael also shares his 1% method making small, intentional changes consistently rather than waiting for one dramatic transformation. We explore: • Why achievement doesn't automatically create fulfilment • Presence before performance • How unconscious habits shape our lives • Why so many people have dreams but never act on them • Fear, doubt and stepping beyond the comfort zone • The power of curiosity and questioning what you've always done • Mikael's 1% method for creating sustainable change • Why consistency can matter more than intensity • Resilience as the ability to change perspective rather than simply endure • What Mikael's journey through elite sport, creativity and coaching has taught him about possibility Perhaps the most important question from this conversation is a simple one: What is the 1% change you could make today? Because changing your life doesn't always begin with one enormous decision. Sometimes it begins with noticing. Questioning. Taking one small action. And doing it again tomorrow. 🎙️ The Resilience Movement Podcast You are not starting over. You are starting from experience. Connect with Mikael: mikaelavatar.com Discover more from The Resilience Movement: https://theresiliencemovement.com.au/ Support the show The Resilience Movement explores resilience not as motivation or mindset, but as capacity the psychological, emotional, and identity foundations that allow people to perform, adapt, and sustain effectiveness through pressure, change, and adversity. Hosted by Donna Moulds , the podcast features in-depth conversations with leaders, psychologists, educators, and professionals whose work sits at the intersection of resilience, leadership, identity, and human performance. Drawing on Donna’s background in leadership, workforce development, and lived experience of navigating major life transitions, the show examines: Psychological readiness and emotional regulation Identity, responsibility, and role transition Leadership behaviour and cultural impact Sustained performance without burnout What it actually takes to adapt and rebuild when life changes This is a considered, evidence-informed podcast for people who want to think clearly, lead responsibly, and navigate challenge without losing themselves in the process. The conversations also explore how people can develop the psychological skills required to adapt, recalibrate, and grow through change , rather than being defined or diminished by it. New episodes released regularly.Follow & Connect 🌐 Website: https://theresiliencemovement.com.au 🎧 Apple Podc...
