In this episode of The Champions Corner Podcast, Kate Elizabeth breaks down the real backbone of elite performance, the beliefs athletes carry into training, competition, and everyday life.

She unpacks how deeply held beliefs can shape self-worth, influence motivation, and directly impact performance, especially in high-pressure sports like taekwondo.

Kate dives into why so many athletes push harder in training not out of passion, but out of fear — fear that they’re not enough, fear of failing, fear of disappointing coaches or parents. She reframes gratitude as more than a feel-good exercise — it becomes a performance tool that grounds athletes in who they are becoming, not just what they achieve.

This conversation is fuel for anyone wanting stronger self-identity, healthier mental habits, and true personal growth in sport and life.

• Beliefs we carry into training and competition often aren’t ours; they’re inherited and unchallenged.
• Gratitude is a mindset tool that anchors athletes in growth, not fear-based performance.
• Athletes frequently tie self-worth to outcomes wins, selections, scores, or praise.
• More training doesn’t equal better performance if the belief system underneath is broken.
• Challenging limiting beliefs strengthens mental health and on-mat confidence.
• Self-identity in taekwondo can get distorted by external validation coaches, parents, rankings.
• Pressure affects perception; mindset determines whether it builds you or breaks you.
• Awareness of false beliefs is the first step toward powerful mindset change.
• Personal growth comes from shifting how you think, not just how you train.
• Gratitude rewires focus from fear to possibility, from scarcity to self-trust.

If you haven't listened to the episode yet with Olympian Leon Sekranovic then check it out here.

If this episode hit hard, it’s because you’re meant to hear it. Let it shift you. Let it sharpen you. And keep training your mind like your performance depends on it.

Because it does!