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Stop Letting Anxiety Control Your Game
Welcome to Episode 91 of the Dialed and Driven Mentality Podcast: Stop Letting Anxiety Control Your Game.
Every athlete feels pressure.
The nerves before a big game. The fear of making a mistake. The worry about letting your team down.
But what if those nerves could actually help you perform better?
In this episode, Jeff Lerg and mental performance coach Chris Palmer break down why doubt, fear, and anxiety are normal parts of competition—and how athletes can learn to turn that nervous energy into excitement and confidence.
Jeff shares a powerful story from his professional hockey career when he was unexpectedly called into Game 7 of the playoffs after going two months without playing.
With the season on the line, he had to rely on three things:
Control his breathing
Focus on what he could control
Trust his preparation
They also discuss why even the best athletes experience self-doubt, how routines build confidence, and why your mindset can make the difference when the pressure is on.
Because you can't always control the pressure, but you can control how you respond to it.
Episode Highlights:
- Why every athlete experiences doubt, fear, and anxiety
- How to turn pregame nerves into excitement
- Jeff's most nerve-racking moment as a professional goalie
- Why preparation creates confidence under pressure
- How breathing and routines help athletes regain control
- Why focusing on the process improves performance
- How to stop overthinking and trust your training
- Why your worth as an athlete isn't defined by one performance
The biggest message?
Feel the nerves. Trust your preparation. Do your job.
You don't have to eliminate fear to perform at your best.
You just have to learn how to manage it.
🚨 WANT TO TAKE YOUR MENTAL GAME TO THE NEXT LEVEL?
Listening is just the beginning. Now it's time to put what you're learning into action.
Try Our Training FREE!
Get a firsthand look at the Dialed & Driven Success Formula, our mental performance training program designed to help athletes build confidence, develop better habits, handle pressure, and compete with a stronger mindset.
Because improving your mental game takes more than motivation. It takes consistent training.
🔥 Ready to start training your mindset like you train your game?
👇 TRY OUR TRAINING FREE HERE: dialedanddrivensuccessformula.app.clientclub.net/communities/groups/dialed-and-driven/learning
Stay coachable. Stay dialed. Stay driven.
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🎙️ Listen On
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Amazon Music: music.amazon.com/podcasts/b1168059-6e38-4352-b3d5-c5fdbba6067f/dialed-driven-hockey-mentality-podcast
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20 minutes.