Episode 3

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Published on:

27th Jan 2025

The Confidence Formula - Where Does Confidence Come From?

Today's Topic: The Confidence Formula: Where Does Confidence Come From?

In this episode of 'Confident, Calm, and Clutch Car Ride Conversations,' host Valerie Alston guides parents and young athletes on sparking meaningful dialogue about confidence and mental toughness. This episode dives into the 'Confidence Formula,' exploring whether confidence is innate or developed through practice and experience.

Valerie defines confidence, distinguishes between global and task-specific confidence, and outlines four key factors that build confidence: personal experiences, vicarious experiences, body arousal regulation, and mindset. The episode concludes with conversation prompts to help families and teams discuss ways to build confidence together.

00:00 Introduction to Confident Car Ride Conversations

00:22 Understanding the Confidence Formula

01:10 Defining Confidence

02:17 Types of Confidence

04:31 Building Confidence Through Experience

08:58 The Role of Mindset and Persuasion

11:37 Conversation Prompts for Parents and Athletes

13:40 Conclusion and Additional Resources

Discussion questions

  1. Athlete: What’s one thing you’ve worked hard to get better at? How did practicing help your confidence? Parent: Can you share a time when preparation helped you feel confident?
  2. Together: Is there anything parents or coaches are doing that isn’t helping your confidence right now? What is something they are doing that is helping?
  3. Together: What’s one thing we can work on together to help build your confidence?

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.

And don’t forget to join my newsletter at www.confidentcalmclutch.com/newsletter for exclusive tips, tools, and updates or buy my book Confident, Calm and Clutch: How to build confidence and mental toughness for young athletes using sports psychology on Amazon.

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About the Podcast

Car Ride Conversations
Conversation prompts for building mentally tough young athletes while you drive
Confident, Calm, and Clutch Car Ride Conversations – 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 self-belief, 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!
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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.