This episode is for athletes and parents who want to better understand pressure, fear, confidence, and how mindset is built every single day through language.

We explore why words are never neutral — and how language shapes emotions, identity, and performance, especially in youth sports.

🎧 You’ll learn:

• Why the brain doesn’t just hear words — it responds to them
• The 3 things your brain does instantly when it hears language
• Why fear shows up so strongly before games and performances
• How repeated words become mental patterns
• The difference between saying “I am” vs “I feel”

How changing one word can change energy, focus, and readiness

🧠 Key Concepts We Explore:

1) Fear vs Challenge:

The same situation can trigger completely different reactions depending on the word used:

Fear prepares the body for defense

Challenge or excitement prepares the body for engagement and energy

2) Identity Language (“I am”) vs Experience Language (“I feel / I act”)

When we say “I am anxious” or “I am bad under pressure,” the brain treats it as identity.

When we say “I feel stress right now,” the brain hears something temporary — and temporary creates possibility for change.

Language creates the emotional environment in which athletes perform.

Just like updating your phone, changing your words helps update your mental software — from an old version to a new one that supports confidence, trust, and growth.

🎯 This Week’s Challenge:

The next time you feel pressure — before a game, a test, or a difficult moment:

Notice the first word you use to describe how you feel: change it intentionally, observe how your body and energy respond.

See you in the next episode

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