Performance Mindset: Why Mastering Your Inner State is the Game - Changer for Birth, Business and Beyond - By Jutta Wohlrab

When people hear the word performance, they often think of pressure. Deadlines. Exams. The moment you have to "prove" something. But after supporting over 3,000 births, coaching thousands of women through some of life’s biggest transitions, and sharing my work across stages worldwide, I’ve come to understand something essential:

True performance isn’t about pressure. It’s about presence.

And presence, that deep connection to your breath, your body, your focus and your values, comes from cultivating a performance mindset.

Whether you’re giving birth, pitching to investors, stepping into leadership or navigating change, your ability to stay centred, focused and emotionally agile will shape your outcome more than anything else.

What is a performance mindset?

A performance mindset is the ability to manage your internal world, your thoughts, emotions and nervous system, so you can bring your best to the moment that matters. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being prepared and present, even when things don’t go to plan.

It means:

• Managing fear without letting it take over

• Focusing your attention when distractions pull at you

• Reframing limiting beliefs that block your confidence

• Tapping into calm when the situation is intense

• Remembering your why, even when doubt creeps in

This isn’t about “pushing through”. It’s about harnessing your inner resources, so that whatever challenge you face, a contraction or a crisis meeting, you respond with clarity rather than collapse under stress.

My journey with mindset and performance

When I began my career as a midwife over 40 years ago, I quickly realised something: birth is as much a mental event as it is physical. Women who approached birth with confidence, self-belief and trust in their body had an entirely different experience than those who were overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty.

So I began exploring tools to support the mind, not just the body. I trained in NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), hypnotherapy, yoga, Chinese medicine, and holistic coaching.

Over time, these tools didn’t just help my clients. They helped me, as a speaker, a trainer, and a founder of my own business, Elements of Birth. They helped me step onto global stages, write bestselling books, show up for thousands of women and families, and manage change with grace, not panic.

That is the power of a performance mindset. It’s not just for athletes or CEOs. It’s for everyone navigating a meaningful moment.

Why performance mindset matters, in birth and in life

We often separate life into compartments: "This is my business life, this is my personal life, this is birth, this is parenting." But in truth, your mindset travels with you across every space you enter.

In labour, the mind can either amplify pain or transform it. In business, it can create boldness or hold you hostage in self-doubt. In relationships, it can allow for communication or cause collapse under pressure.

A performance mindset strengthens:

• Your ability to stay calm under pressure

• Your confidence in uncertain situations

• Your emotional resilience through setbacks

• Your clarity when making important decisions

• Your connection to purpose, even when things get tough

This is why I call it the invisible skill that changes everything.

The tools I teach

Over the years, I’ve developed a toolkit that supports women, and their partners, in both birth and leadership. These tools are simple, practical, and backed by both evidence and lived experience.

1. Anchoring and visualisation Learn to create a “calm state” you can access any time, whether you’re stepping into the birthing suite or a speaking engagement.

2. Breathing techniques Proper breathwork isn’t just calming, it’s regulating. It supports your nervous system, sharpens focus, and restores energy when stress hits.

3. Reframing fear NLP techniques that help you change the meaning you attach to an event, so you move from anxiety to agency.

4. Embodiment and mindfulness Reconnect with your body as an ally, not an obstacle. These practices are essential when preparing for birth, especially for those with trauma or tokophobia (fear of childbirth).

5. Boundaries and decision-making clarity Learn how to say yes, and no, with confidence. This helps in everything from birth plans to business strategy.

The ripple effect of mindset

Here’s what I’ve seen time and again:

When women develop a performance mindset before birth, they:

• Bond more deeply with their baby

• Feel more positive about their birth experience, no matter the outcome

• Recover more quickly and confidently postpartum

• Approach motherhood with more trust and self-compassion

• Lead their families and careers with clarity and heart

Because this mindset doesn’t disappear after the birth. It stays with you, in every room you walk into. It becomes a lifelong skill, one you pass on to your children, your community, and yourself.

Let’s shape it together

Performance isn’t about being superhuman. It’s about learning how to be fully you, even in the moments that stretch you.

If you’re pregnant, preparing for birth, or navigating leadership in any form, you don’t have to figure it out alone. I’d be honoured to walk with you.

📩 Book a one-to-one session with me to explore how we can build your performance mindset together. Let's discover the tools that work for you, so you can feel prepared, powerful, and peaceful, wherever your journey takes you.

https://calendly.com/juttawohlrab/private-consultation

With warmth, Jutta Wohlrab Midwife. Coach. Speaker. NLP Trainer. Founder, Elements of Birth