Love. Optimism. Courage to confront yourself. Using the tools. To feel instead of just filling the void. Emotions. Energy. Change. Leaving the victimhood behind. Ability to relax. Efficiency. From racing to self awareness. Hope. This and much more was presented in this podcast episode with my guest Jani Brajkovič, former pro cyclist racer. Listen to his journey from struggle to self awareness, where he recounts a deeply introspective journey through his career and personal struggles, shedding light on the complexities of high-performance sports and human emotion. Viewing himself as a failure, even though he was a world champion in time trial. Obsessed with rigorous training, creating an eating disorder, ignoring his body's signals, leading to overwork, emotional numbness, and chronic issues. If you are an athlete, or a parent, you might be facing similar adversities and suffering. There is a solution and no need to fall so deep as Jani did. You do not need to over achieve to be worthy of love. Thus enabling yourself for a destructive cycle leading to physical and mental breakdowns, including panic attacks, insomnia, and chronic stress, isolating from others because of shame or guilt. Learn how Jani first saved himself with the AEQ method approach and now helps so many athletes to rediscover their passion and activate their potential. How to reduce muscle tension, reconnect with the body, and process emotions more effectively. He emphasizes the importance of balancing effort with recovery, respecting the body's limits, and understanding the deeper causes of chronic tension and inefficiency. We also touched on the tabu theme of being a victim. In sport arenas there is a cyclical nature of power dynamics that can abuse many. Just around the corner there is hope and tools that teach and inspire others. Jani sees potential for a big change in professional athletes. By addressing their parasympathetic systems and reconnecting with their bodies, they can achieve sustainable performance, enjoy the fruits of their labor, and live more balanced lives. True fulfillment and success require self-awareness, emotional connection, and respect for the body's limits. Overtraining and emotional suppression lead to long-term harm, even if they yield short-term gains. Recovery, relaxation, and authentic connection with oneself are essential for both performance and personal well-being. The culture of pushing through pain at all costs must evolve to prioritize efficiency, health, and sustainable growth. Jani's story is a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative potential of self-awareness and holistic care.