Episode 26

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Published on:

7th Jul 2025

REFLECT to Improve: Turning Every Practice into a Confidence Booster

Building Confidence Through Reflect Journaling: Unlocking the Power of Experience

In this episode of Confident Calm Clutch Car Ride Conversations, host Valerie Alston introduces the reflect journaling process as a powerful tool for athletes to learn and grow from every experience. Valerie emphasizes that confidence is built not just from winning but from learning and reflecting on both successes and failures. The episode explores the 'REFLECT' acronym, guiding athletes and their parents on how to recall events, understand emotions, focus thoughts, identify learning moments, evaluate strategies, create action plans, and track progress. This consistent practice promises to build confidence and resilience, using personal experience as the ultimate learning tool.


00:00 Introduction to Building Confidence

01:01 The Source of Confidence: Personal Experience

02:02 Learning from Failures

03:36 The Reflect Process: An Overview

05:52 Reflect: Step-by-Step Breakdown

10:07 Implementing the Reflect Process

15:50 Conversation Prompts for Parents and Athletes

19:11 Conclusion and Additional Resources


Download the FREE Mental Skills Journal here



Discussion questions:

  • What’s something you learned about yourself from your last game or practice?
  • When you mess up, what helps you move forward rather than dwell on it?
  • Which part of REFLECT feels most useful to you right now?
  • Would you be open to journaling together or reviewing your reflections with me sometimes?


Thanks for joining me on Confident, Calm, and Clutch Car Ride Conversations! If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a moment. Share it with other parents or coaches who could use a little extra inspiration on the go.

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For more specific tips on building mental toughness, buy my book Confident, Calm and Clutch: How to build confidence and mental toughness for young athletes using sports psychology

Parents join my Facebook group to Help Your Athlete Gain Mental Toughness for Parents

Have an idea for a topic? Submit your idea here.

Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email me: valerie.alston@valstoncoaching.com

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About the Podcast

Car Ride Conversations For Sports Families
Conversation prompts for building mentally tough young athletes while you drive
The ultimate podcast for parents, coaches, and young athletes who want to unlock the secrets to mental toughness, confidence, and resilience. Whether you're on your way to practice, a big game, or just tackling the daily grind, these bite-sized episodes are designed to spark meaningful conversations to equip young athletes with actionable tools to thrive in school, sports and life while building strong relationships with their parents, one car ride at a time.

Hosted by Valerie Alston, former D1 athlete, sport psychology expert, and resilience coach, each episode dives into key topics like building effective self-talk, staying calm under pressure, and bouncing back from setbacks. With real-life stories, practical tips, and relatable insights, you'll discover how to support your athlete's journey while strengthening your connection along the way.

Buckle up and join us for a ride full of inspiration, growth, and the skills needed to become Confident, Calm, and Clutch!

Questions? Comments? Ideas?
✉️ Email me: valerie.alston@valstoncoaching.com

Follow Me On:
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valstoncoaching
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valstoncoaching
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@valstoncoaching9666

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About your host

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Valerie Alston

Drawing from a rich background as a former D1 softball player and a Certified Mental Performance Consultant, she boasts over 15 years of experience dedicated to teaching and training Soldiers in the intricate art of mental toughness and resilience. As a distinguished author and coach, she brings a unique perspective to the realm of performance enhancement. Currently, her passion lies in empowering today's youth, leveraging her expertise to build and foster resilience through sports and mental toughness training, ensuring the next generation thrives in both their athletic pursuits and broader life challenges. With a comprehensive approach to athlete development, she extends her expertise to parents and coaches. Committed to enhancing understanding, she collaborates with them to impart valuable insights on building the mental toughness of young athletes, fostering an environment that nurtures resilience and unleashes their full potential.