Ep. 34: Identity Beyond Sports

In this special collaboration episode, The Anxious Athlete and The Mental Playbook come together for a deep conversation about building an identity that isn’t dependent on performance.So many athletes grow up tying their self worth to the end result, playing time, stats, and external validation from coaches and parents. But what happens when performance declines, you get injured, or the sport eventually comes to an end?We dive into why athletes connect their worth to sport in the first place, how early praise and structure shape identity, and what anxiety, burnout, or identity loss can look like during transitions whether it’s the sophomore slump or the big jump to college sports.If you’ve ever wondered who you are beyond your sport, this conversation is for you.The Anxious Athlete Podcast