findingthefloor

Episode 248: Remembering the confident mind

Remembering the confident mind- episode 248

In this episode, I revisit one of my favorite books on mindset and performance: The Confident Mind by Dr. Nate Zinsser. As I’ve been re-reading and re-listening to it, I’ve felt completely re-energized about what is possible when we intentionally train our thoughts. This book isn’t just about sports — it’s a guide to building confidence in any area of life. I reflect on what real confidence actually means, how we can develop it (instead of waiting for it), and why learning to look for the best in ourselves changes everything.

Show Notes: Hi Friends! I hope you enjoyed listening to this episode. Below are all the references.

What Is Real Confidence?

Dr. Zinsser defines confidence not as arrogance or hype, but as:

The absence of mental chatter
A sense of certainty about your ability
The ability to execute without overthinking

Confidence allows us to perform unconsciously — like brushing our teeth or walking — without constant doubt or analysis. It’s developed through training our mind, not through waiting for perfect conditions.

Two Big Ideas That Stood Out to Me

Confidence is built by looking for the best in yourself.
You can literally change your mind — and strengthen it.

We don’t drift into confidence. We practice it.

The Success Cycle vs. The Sewer Cycle

Dr. Zinsser describes two mental cycles:

The Success Cycle

Constructive thoughts
Energy
Optimism
Enthusiasm
Empowered action

The Sewer Cycle

Doubt
Fear
Worry
Mental paralysis
Anxiety

Our thoughts create our feelings, and our feelings drive our actions. If we want different results, we must train what we focus on.

Building a Mental Bank Account

One of my favorite practices from the book is creating a “Top 10 List” of your best moments in a specific area (work, parenting, sports, creative projects, etc.). When confidence wavers, you revisit that list and let those memories generate:

Energy
Optimism
Enthusiasm

In addition to long-term memories, we build confidence daily through what Dr. Zinsser calls ESPs:

Effort

What was my best effort today?

Success

What went right today?

Progress

Where did I improve?

The mind focuses on what we tell it to focus on. If we look for what’s working, we strengthen confidence.

Four Reminders About Being Human

Before even teaching mental techniques, the book reminds us:

The mind-body connection is real
Human imperfection is inevitable
Delayed returns and plateaus are normal
“Butterflies” mean your body is preparing you

I especially love the reminder that greatness is always accomplished through imperfection.

Protecting Your Confidence

Confidence has thieves.

We must treat mistakes as:

Temporary
Limited to the moment
Not representative of who we are

Instead of spiraling into “I always do this,” we can filter mistakes and let them go.

One powerful mindset shift is the “Shooter’s Mentality”:

If I miss, I’m getting closer.
If I’m making it, I’m on a run.

Either way, I stay confident.

Preparing for “Flat Tire” Events

Unexpected setbacks happen. Instead of dwelling on the problem, we rehearse our response.

Just like changing a flat tire:

We don’t sit and replay the mistake.
We execute the solution.

Preparation builds calm.

Envisioning Success

Visualization is not wishful thinking — it’s mental rehearsal.

When we:

Sit quietly
Imagine the event
See ourselves performing confidently

We create the first victory in our mind before we ever step into the situation.

Dealing With Doubt

Doubts will come. The goal isn’t eliminating them forever — it’s training our response:

Acknowledge the thought
Silence it
Replace it with an affirmation

Affirmations help create the image of what we want more of.

It’s Okay to Be “Delusional”

When we try something new, we have no history of success to look back on. In that sense, we must be “delusional” enough to believe we can do it anyway — just like learning to ride a bike.

Belief often comes before evidence.

Excellence Without Perfection

I end with a quote from Olympic gold medalist Helen Maroulis:

“What am I going to do with perfection? What I want out of perfection is excellence. Can I still have excellence without finding perfection? I won with all of my strengths and I won with all of my weaknesses.”