Finding Confidence After Setbacks | The Mental Toll of Athletic Performance with Joshua Aruya

Hosts Dave Barney and Luke Olson sit down with Division I athlete Joshua Aruya for a conversation about the mental side of elite performance. Josh shares how his journey into men’s volleyball began unexpectedly and evolved rapidly, leading him to compete at the highest national and international levels. Josh shares how confidence is built not through external validation, but through preparation, discipline, and self-belief.Josh talks about the reality of getting cut from teams, navigating identity, and facing serious injury at pivotal moments. He talks about setbacks that reshaped his perspective and forced him to develop mental habits that supported both performance and well-being. Josh’s story shares the confidence to stay steady, even when circumstances feel unfair, uncertain, or out of their control.Chapters[Start] Discovering Competitive Drive: Josh shares how he found men’s volleyball and what drew him to elite competition.08:15 Learning Through Setbacks: Being cut from national teams and how adversity reshaped Josh’s mental approach.20:20 Injury, Identity, and Mental Health: Josh recounts a major ankle injury and the fear of losing identity.31:32 Faith and Rebuilding Confidence: How prayer, mental fitness tools, and relationships helped Josh recover mentally and emotionally.43:29 Daily Mental Fitness Habits: Josh shares the daily practices that build resilience and well-being.Links and ResourcesSign up with NUE - Your Mental Fitness PlatformElizaChat - Responsible and Ethical AI Solutions