[ENG] From NHL & Olympics to Mental Performance Coach | Adrien Plavsic on Mental Mastery

From anxiety, fear and pressure… to mindfulness, flow and self-belief.In this conversation, Adrien Plavsic opens up about his journey through elite hockey, mental struggles, identity, meditation, retirement and what it truly means to become a warrior — on and off the ice.Former NHL player and Olympic silver medalist, Adrien shares how years of deep inner work taught him something no arena ever could: life is already enough, exactly as it is.For years, he chased freedom through performance, achievement and success — only to discover that what he was truly looking for was never outside of himself.Today, as a father, coach, speaker and entrepreneur, he brings everything he has lived through — the highs, the pressure, the anxiety, the awakening — into the work he does with athletes. Not simply to help them become better players. But to help them become more fully themselves.A deep conversation about the inner game behind performance, the relationship with fear, the search for meaning, mindfulness and what it means to live and compete with presence.⏱️ Timeline :00:00:00 — Introduction00:01:47 — How Plavsic’s youth shaped him00:04:00 — His struggle and coping with anxiety00:05:40 — How fear is conditioned and how it diminishes happiness00:07:35 — His college years and being drafted at 1800:10:48 — His growth from Canada to the USA00:13:20 — His pro experience and “stepping in the arena”00:16:13 — Managing the ego while switching leagues00:18:55 — The inner game: sensitivity, emotions and meditation00:21:03 — His advice to young athletes00:21:45 — How to go through the storm00:28:34 — Axel shares how he faces his fears00:31:08 — How to shift focus when stuck in emotions00:33:10 — “Fake it until you make it” — awakening the warrior within00:35:20 — What is a pro mentality?00:37:15 — Finding flow and learning to trust yourself00:41:27 — What is mindfulness?00:45:20 — Self 1 vs Self 200:46:00 — How to stay mentally hungry00:50:10 — Are elite athletes crazy?00:51:10 — The importance of our relationship with the unknown00:51:50 — How to keep believing in ourselves00:54:00 — Plavsic’s transition to Europe01:00:30 — The power of mantras01:02:25 — Plavsic’s transition into retirement01:08:05 — The importance of connection and solitude01:12:50 — How do you want to be remembered?01:13:40 — The power of mindfulnessMore on Adrien : 🌐 Adrien’s website : https://adrienplavsic.com/💼 Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienplavsic/📸 Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/adrienplavsic/🎙️ Focus Freedom & Flow is an academy helping athletes explore performance, mindfulness, and mental development. 🌐 https://www.focus-freedom-flow.ch/ 💪 Want to build a consistent mental training routine with other athletes? Join us in the Mental Training Lab : https://www.skool.com/focus-freedom-and-flow-7254/about 🚀 Connect with us: 🎧 Previous episodes: https://www.focus-freedom-flow.ch/podcast 📩 Newsletter : https://www.focus-freedom-flow.ch/ ▶️ YouTube: / @focusfreedomflow 👉 Subscribe for more content on mental training, sports psychology, focus, breathing, visualization, mindset, and sustainable performance. #MentalTraining #Mindset #Mindfulness #Performance #SportsPsychology #AthleteMindset #MentalPerformance #PeakPerformance #Meditation #Breathwork #EmotionalIntelligence #MentalHealth #Podcast #FocusFreedomFlow