How Athletes Build Positive Self-Talk Habits Before and During Competition

What’s the best way for athletes to develop positive self-talk habits before and during games? In this episode, mental performance coach Eli Straw explains how your thoughts shape your mindset, emotions, and performance, and how to train your thinking to compete with confidence and freedom.You’ll learn how negative thought patterns create fear, tension, and hesitant play, and how positive self-talk helps athletes stay confident, focused, and resilient under pressure.Eli breaks down a simple, practical system for building strong self-talk habits both before competition and during games.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why self-talk directly impacts confidence, emotions, and performanceHow to identify and replace negative thought patterns before competitionA simple daily self-talk routine to retrain your mindsetHow to use mantras during games to stay calm, focused, and confidentHow reframing helps you recover quickly after mistakesHow proactive self-talk keeps your mind positive under pressureHow to stay present and avoid outcome-focused thinking during competitionPositive self-talk is not about “just thinking positive.” It is about training your mind to support your performance, manage fear, and help you compete freely and confidently.If you want to strengthen your mental game, build confidence, and learn how to control your mindset before and during competition, this episode will give you a clear system to start using immediately.Eli Straw is a mental performance coach who works with athletes around the world through a structured 12-week mental performance coaching program focused on confidence, composure, focus, and resilience under pressure.Learn more about 1-on-1 Mental Performance Coaching: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coachingShare this episode with an athlete who struggles with negative thinking, fear, or confidence during competition. Work with me!🧠 1-1 Mental Performance Coaching for Athletes: https://www.successstartswithin.com/mental-performance-coaching/👉 Confident Competitor Academy: Go from playing with fear & anxiety to playing with confidence in just 6 weeks!👉 Mentally Tough Kid Course (for youth athletes)📖 Mind Games Book: https://a.co/d/gXZfORN📖 Athlete Mental Training Book: https://a.co/d/bfojamYFree Training: Top 5 Mental Mistakes Athletes Make*This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute psychological or medical treatment. I am a mental performance coach, not a licensed psychologist. For clinical concerns, consult a licensed professional.