The CEP Mindset Podcast

In this episode of The CEP Mindset Show, Cassidy, Nick, and Adam share where athletes go wrong in their pre-game routine - and it's not because you're not doing enough. The episode covers the difference between superstitions and routines, why forcing positivity before a game is one of the most common mental mistakes athletes make, the fan mentality versus the player mentality, and why the perfect...

In this episode of The CEP Mindset Show, Nick and Adam cover why hard work is just the entry cost at the elite level, the five anchors every athlete needs to develop, and what hard work looks like as you rise the ranks might. Nick shares a story about an athlete heading into his third NHL dev camp who only got on the ice four times in two weeks — and why that was exactly right. When you get to a c...

In this episode of The CEP Mindset Show, Cassidy, Nick, and Adam break down how an athlete can tap into their unconscious mind. The episode covers Nick's broken triangle framework, the difference between standards and expectations, and why Rod Brind'Amour disconnecting himself from his own team's win is the perfect example of autonomy-supportive leadership.

In this episode of The CEP Mindset Show, Cassidy, Nick, and Adam share what it actually takes to grow and why the most uncomfortable moments of an athlete's career are often the most important ones. The episode covers the lobster analogy and what it really means to shed your shell, the difference between being forced to grow and being stuck, why change is chaos before it's progress, and how themes...

In this episode of The CEP Mindset Show, Cassidy, Nick, and Adam break down two of the most misunderstood concepts in sport - the chip on your shoulder and discipline vs motivation. The episode covers why external motivation isn't always the enemy athletes make it out to be, and how there's a difference between principle and supportive motivation. They also chat about what selective disobedience a...

In this episode of The CEP Mindset Show, Cassidy, Nick, and Adam share why eliminating stress shouldn't be the goal for athletes - and why trying to get rid of stress too quickly leads to burn out. The episode covers the difference between distress and eustress, why the better you get the more challenging the journey becomes, and what it actually means to build versus chase when everything's on th...

In this episode of The CEP Mindset Show, Cassidy, Nick, and Adam highlight the difference between taking responsibility and taking the blame. Confusing the two is one of the most common mental mistakes an athlete makes. They also cover the fault vs. responsibility framework, why the better you get the more other people are at fault, and how confidence fits into the three-four mindset. They also di...

In this episode of The CEP Mindset Show, Cassidy, Nick, and Adam get honest about one of the most overlooked topics in sport - what the love of the game actually means. They break down why it's so hard to define and what happens when it starts to fade. The episode covers the three psychological needs every athlete has to have met to truly love what they do. They cover why unstructured play is disa...

In this episode of The CEP Mindset Show, Cassidy, Nick, and Adam dive into the Survive Land vs. Thrive Land framework, why fear of losing success hits different than fear of failure, the river you have to cross to get to the next level, and why tending to your lead is more important than protecting it. They also cover why striving for the perfect mindset is actually a trap — and the legendary spor...

In this episode of the CEP Mindset Show, Cassidy, Nick, and Adam pull back the curtain on what actually separates athletes who compete freely from those who play not to lose - and it starts before the game even begins. The episode covers the pre-acceptance framework every athlete needs in their pre-game routine (and the '300' scene that explains why), the difference between being at odds with some...

As part of a high-performing team you want to collaborate, support each other, and be a team player… but in the same breath, you also want to hit your numbers, earn your bonus, and chase down your next promotion. You try to be 'positive' but the projects, responsibilities, and requests keep piling up. And you try to be a team player but the gnawing feeling of your personal goals, results, and targ...

What if worry, frustration, or feeling down are not the problem? Instead, they are symptoms based on your approach to sport and even life. In our society, the way we talk about emotions is backward. We label ourselves and others as anxious, sad, or frustrated. That is not who we are—it is what we are feeling, and the distinction matters. When you identify with an emotion, you've got a self-perpetu...

Do you feel stuck in your own head, or is your mindset holding you back? It's normal and okay to get stuck. We can't avoid challenges, pressures, and distractions in sports or life. But we can learn how to use these events as growing opportunities. Specifically, this post will show you the 3 phases to transform your mindset. I've been using this concept with many of my one-on-one clients because o...

Winning versus enjoyment: what matters more? The tension between the two is one that many high performers struggle with. I got this question recently, and the person said, "it's not just about winning - but it's ultimately all about winning." This conundrum can create a lot of inner conflict without the mental model to resolve it. You can be left oscillating between an unhealthy win-at-all-costs m...

For most athletes, traditional goal setting is holding them back. Yes you read that right. Goal setting itself is not the problem. The problem is being obsessed with results.  You can want and care about results, but the best athletes in the world are more obsessed with the process than results. This can be easier said than done. I learned how big of a problem this is first hand. As a junior hocke...

If you want a sure fire way to quickly transform your mental game - you need to develop a personalized Alter Ego.  This strategy is not about putting fixed labels on who you are as a person. Rather it is about creating a narrative about how you want to show up on the field of play.  The Power of Simplicity and Creativity Credit to my coach and mentor Todd Herman for writing the book: The Alter Ego...

Noah Cavanaugh is a professional soccer player from Seattle, WA, who currently plays for Flower City Union in New York. Over the past year, he's worked with Dr. Cassidy Preston to help give him a mental edge on and off the pitch as he continues to push up the ranks of pro soccer in the US. In this interview Noah discusses how he has personalized his mental game to work for him. He touches on the c...

The ability to block out the 'noise' is key to having a clear mind and playing free.  But this is easier said than done - many athletes have trouble blocking out the 'noise' and end up: Overthinking Doubting their abilities Worrying about things out of their control When you lack alignment within your thoughts, feelings, and actions, you end up losing the ability to play in the flow state. The bes...

Confidence is arguably the most important ingredient in succeeding as an athlete, but athletes often struggle to find and keep this elusive trait. The problem lies in that they have a skewed understanding of what confidence actually is and where it comes from. Here are the 4 main reasons why athletes struggle with self-confidence: Yo-Yo Confidence:  Tying their self-image to external results or pr...

The outline of my first book is complete - check out the caption below to see the outline! I've gained some great insights while starting the writing process - you can find those in the summary below. The working title is - Play with Confidence: A New Way for Athletes to Mentally Prepare The purpose of the book is to challenge the status quo on mental preparation and question the 'accepted' ways o...

Performance anxiety is one the leading reasons athletes struggle to consistently perform at their capabilities. Learning how to channel your nerves is key to performing at your best when it matters most. Unfortunately most athletes focus on the threats of high-pressure situations.  Pressure can Provoke a State of Fear As a result the pressure provokes a fear state that leaves the athlete tense, ov...

Getting injured is one of the biggest challenges in sport. So having the mental strategies to overcome this adversity will help you: ● Stay motivated despite not being able to play or train within the sport you love. ● Have the resilience & grit to persevere through the recovery process. ● Remain confident in your abilities and trust yourself as you return to play. ● Focus on being a great teammat...

You wouldn't build a house without a blueprint – and in the same manner you shouldn't work on your mental game without doing an assessment. Here are the 3 steps to using the CEP Assessment to build your Mental Game blueprint: STEP 1: Identify the Mental Skills to Build One of the biggest problems with working on your mental game is that it's hard to make tangible progress - so in our assessment we...

As an elite athlete, you have put in a ton of hard work to develop your capabilities, but until you develop a rock solid mental game, you won't perform consistently when it matters most. You have probably tried the fluffy and cookie-cutter advice perpetuated by sport culture: - Be Positive - Forget about it - Don't worry about it It is easy to promote these fluffy and cookie-cutter hacks. But when...

Imagine someone on a dock, they are hesitating to jump in. They are worried that it is too cold, so they dip their toe in. The even jump in, but they get right back out. This person is not swimming and certainly not enjoying themselves. Alternatively, what you want to do is get on the dock, run full speed, jump in, and enjoy swimming. This is a relatable analogy that I use to simplify the mental g...