Céleste Mordenti: Finding Flow in the Air
- tbdomann
- Nov 19
- 4 min read
The Gap Between Perfection and Progress
I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Céleste Mordenti, a world-class gymnast from Luxembourg who's competing for a spot at the Olympic Games. What struck me most about our conversation wasn't just her incredible athletic ability—it was her honest struggle with something every high performer faces: the gap between perfection and progress.
Céleste shared something that really resonated with me. She talked about her journey with mental blocks, particularly that perfectionism trap that so many elite athletes fall into. In gymnastics, the goal is literally to be perfect. But here's the paradox—perfection isn't actually possible. And when you demand it of yourself in every moment, in every training session, you create stress that prevents you from accessing your best performance.
What I appreciated about Céleste was her vulnerability in talking about how she rebuilt her confidence from the ground up. She didn't just push through. She went back to basics, focused on what she could control, and found that true confidence again. That's the difference between a temporary fix and real growth.
We also dove into something I'm passionate about—the concept of flow. Céleste described how on bars, she can stay in that flow state where everything just happens. But on vault, she's counting steps. On beam, she's thinking between elements. I challenged her a bit on this. After doing a vault thousands of times over five years, her body already knows what to do. The question isn't whether she can do it—it's whether her mind will allow her to be great.
Craig calls this a Pro Mindset® Performance Bubble™. Once you've put in the work, once you've done the training, your body knows. It’s called unconscious competence. The key is protecting your mental space so your body can execute what it already knows how to do. It's about trusting the autopilot.
What really inspired me was Céleste's approach to moving the finish line. She's achieved things she never imagined when she started gymnastics as a kid. But instead of saying "I've arrived," she keeps dreaming bigger. That gap between where you are and where you want to be—that's what keeps you hungry. That's what keeps you growing.
As we wrapped up our conversation, I was reminded why I love these discussions. Whether it's an NFL linebacker or an Olympic hopeful gymnast from Luxembourg, the mental game is universal. We all face the same confidence busters—perfection, comparison, the scoreboard. And we all have access to the same solution: rewriting our story, raising our standards, and showing up fully in our biggest moments.
Céleste is on a beautiful journey, and I have no doubt she'll go as far as she wants to in this sport. Because she's learned what I teach all my clients—your intentions should be to be perfect, but when you're not, give yourself love and grace on how well you did instead of beating yourself up on what you could have done. Learn what you can do better and grow from every practice and performance.
That's Pro Mindset in action.
To hear more from Céleste Mordenti’s Pro Mindset® Podcast, click here or search on your favorite podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
📲 Connect with Céleste:
📸 Instagram: @celestemordenti
📲 Facebook: @Céleste Mordenti
🤝 LinkedIn: @Céleste Mordenti
📢 Ready to master your mental game? Céleste's journey shows us that even world-class performers struggle with the mental blocks that come from perfectionism and overthinking. The difference between good and great isn't just physical preparation—it's whether your mind will allow your body to execute what it already knows how to do. If you're ready to break through your mental barriers, protect your Performance Bubble, and show up with confidence in your biggest moments, the Pro Mindset® Coaching Program will give you the tools and accountability to make it happen.
👉 Learn more at www.ProMindsetPodcast.com/coaching
📖 Learn the framework behind peak performance. The principles Céleste and I explored—flow state, the Performance Bubble™, and giving yourself grace instead of demanding perfection—are the same ones I teach in Pro Mindset®: Be Your Best In Your Biggest Moments. This book and accompanying workbook will show you how to rewrite your story, raise your standards, and win on your stage, whether you're competing at the Olympic level or showing up in the biggest moments of your life.
👉Order now by emailing Craig at Craig.ProMindset@gmail.com. Cost $15.99. Mention that you read the blog and Craig will personalize a note to you or someone you love and/or respect. Craig Domann, Pro Mindset Podcast, Sports, NFL agent, Mindset coaching, Sports psychology, Mental toughness training, Athletic mindset, Peak performance mindset, Visualization techniques, Self-belief training, Mental resilience, Pro Mindset, Performance mindset, Athlete mental training, Sports mindset coaching, Mental performance coach, Identity gap, Rewrite your story, Performance bubble, How to develop mental toughness like NFL players, Pro Mindset training for athletes, Craig Domann mindset coaching, NFL mindset training techniques, How to build unshakeable confidence, Mental training for college athletes, Sports psychology for peak performance, Visualization & Mental Training, Visualization for athletes, Mental rehearsal techniques, Sports visualization training, Pre-game mental preparation, Mental imagery for performance, Building athletic confidence, Overcoming self-doubt in sports, Confident athlete mindset, Self-belief training methods, Mental confidence building, Overcoming sports adversity, Resilience training for athletes, Comeback mindset, Mental toughness after injury, Athletic resilience building, Performing under pressure, Clutch performance mindset, Pressure situations in sports, Big moment preparation, Competition anxiety management, College athlete mindset, Professional athlete psychology, Young athlete mental training, Student athlete performance, Elite athlete mindset, Youth sports psychology, Coaching mental toughness, Parent athlete support, Sports parent guidance, Athletic development mindset, Executive mindset training, High performance psychology, Business athlete mindset, Leadership mental toughness, Professional peak performance, Mindset podcast, Sports psychology podcast, Mental training tips, Mindset coaching techniques, Athletic success stories, Performance improvement strategies, NFL mindset training, Professional sports psychology, Elite ProMindset, ProMindsetPodcast, CraigDomann, CélesteMordenti, Gymnastics, Olympics, Luxembourg, MentalBlocks, Perfectionism, FlowState, PerformanceBubble, Confidence, MentalToughness, SportsPerformance, AthleteMindset, HighPerformance, Resilience, RewriteYourStory, RaiseYourStandards, WinYourStage, GraceOverPerfection, Performance Bubble, Pocket Voice
Comments