full

full
Published on:

30th Apr 2025

How to Handle Criticism & Build Mental Toughness

In this episode of Charge Forward Coaching, host James Blasco tackles the challenge of dealing with external critics and "dream killers" who attempt to derail your ambitious goals. As a certified Mental Toughness and Resilience Coach, James shares powerful strategies to help you build mental fortitude, emphasizing the importance of challenge, commitment, emotional control, and self-confidence.

Key Timestamps:

  • (00:00) Introduction to external critics and their impact
  • (02:05) Types of external critics: Intentional vs. unintentional
  • (04:06) Psychological and physiological impacts of criticism
  • (05:38) The Four C’s of Mental Toughness: Commitment, Challenge, Control, Confidence
  • (07:10) Emotional control techniques: Deep breathing and a self-interview
  • (09:42) Building and maintaining self-confidence
  • (11:14) Spud Webb's story: Overcoming doubters

Key Takeaways:

  • The Interview Technique: Step outside yourself mentally and interview your emotions to gain perspective on criticism. Ask why you feel a certain way and what might be driving the critic's behavior.
  • Confidence in Hidden Progress: Maintain self-belief by recognizing that critics don't see your daily efforts and improvements. Your commitment and plan are yours alone - let results speak for themselves.
  • Criticism as Learning Opportunity: View criticism as a chance to practice emotional control, goal focus, and confidence-building. It's an opportunity to learn about yourself and even the critic.

Resources & Links:

Host Bio:

James Blasco is the founder of Charge Forward Coaching and a certified mental toughness and resilience coach. He specializes in helping athletes and high performers sharpen their focus, build confidence, and stay composed under pressure. With clients ranging from youth athletes to seasoned pros, James is passionate about helping people show up strong—no matter the arena.

Tags:

James Blasco, mental toughness, goal setting, external criticism, dream killers, self-confidence, emotional control, challenge orientation, performance psychology, athlete mindset, resilience, self-belief, overcoming doubt, sports psychology, personal development, goal achievement, handling negativity, focus techniques, perseverance, self-improvement, positive mindset, athletic performance, mental preparation, sports motivation, confidence building, mental toughness coach, mental fortitude, deep breathing, criticism, commitment, challenge, control, confidence

Transcript
James Blasco [:

Narrator [:

James Blasco [:

Narrator [:

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Charge Forward Coaching

About the Podcast

Charge Forward Coaching
What if the key to unlocking your athletic potential wasn’t just about improving your skills, but strengthening your mind? At Charge Forward Coaching, we believe that mental toughness is the secret weapon every elite athlete needs to excel. In this podcast, we explore how athletes can develop the focus, resilience, and mindset necessary to perform at their best, whether you're a high school athlete facing intense competition or a college athlete aiming for the next level.

We explore essential topics such as mental resilience, providing techniques for overcoming self-doubt and building mental endurance. We also tackle performance anxiety, offering strategies to manage stress and stay focused under pressure. Throughout the show, we focus on mindset mastery, sharing tools to stay motivated, handle setbacks, and maintain peak performance. James Blasco offers expert advice on cultivating a champion's mindset for long-term success, helping athletes gain the mental clarity needed to perform at their highest level.

With expert guidance from James Blasco, each episode empowers athletes with actionable strategies they can apply immediately, enabling them to sharpen their focus, handle adversity, and perform under pressure. James’s coaching approach fosters a supportive and empowering environment, where athletes are encouraged to push beyond their comfort zones, embrace challenges, and unlock their full potential. In the world of elite sports, success goes far beyond physical ability—it’s about mastering the mental challenges that arise during competition and ensuring they are prepared to rise to the occasion when it matters most.

In addition to James’s insights, each episode features interviews with top athletes, coaches, and mental performance experts. These guests share their own stories, experiences, and strategies for achieving success in highly competitive environments. Through these conversations, listeners will gain diverse perspectives on how mental toughness plays a pivotal role in their journeys to excellence. Whether it’s learning from a former professional athlete about overcoming personal obstacles, or hearing a coach’s tips for developing a high-performance team mindset, these interviews will offer valuable knowledge and inspiration for athletes of all levels.
Join us on this journey to improve your concentration, boost your confidence, and develop the mindset necessary to reach new heights in your athletic career. Start listening today and begin charging forward toward your goals with mental clarity and strength.

About the Host:
James Blasco is a CTA Certified Coach, and a Certified Functional Mental Toughness and Resilience coach based in Ormond Beach, Florida, with a rich background in sales, media, and entrepreneurship. Throughout his career, James has excelled in sales and sales coaching for some of the largest media companies, owned three successful businesses, and worked in media relations in the NFL. His diverse experiences have equipped him with a deep understanding of leadership, communication, and the drive needed to achieve success. James is also trained specifically to coach to all aspects of mental toughness and resilience.
Having received coaching and mentoring throughout his personal and professional life, James recognizes the profound impact of genuine, constructive, and meaningful guidance. He understands the passion required to pursue a goal, as well as the challenges of doubt, fear, and the need for perseverance. James’s coaching philosophy is rooted in compassion and results, focusing on helping clients uncover their goals, develop actionable plans, and persist through obstacles.

Resources:
Website: www.chargeforwardcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chargeforwardcoaching/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChargeForwardCoaching/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChargeForwardCoaching

About your host

Profile picture for James Blasco

James Blasco