296 How to Take Control of Your Emotions: Building Your Personal Playbook for Confidence and Calm

In the second part of our conversation, David Charlton talks with anxiety and fear coach Matt Young about why emotional control and emotional mastery is the key to lasting confidence and calmness under pressure.

Matt challenges the common idea that we can only manage our emotions. Instead, he explains how emotions like anxiety, fear, or procrastination are learned traits that serve a purpose. By understanding why they appear, athletes and coaches can start to take ownership and use their emotions intentionally rather than reactively.

Drawing parallels between sport and everyday life, Matt and David explore how to create a personal emotional playbook, a structured process for handling stress, setbacks, and performance pressure. From dealing with being dropped from a team to managing social comparison and jealousy, Matt outlines a practical roadmap built on three pillars:

>> Key Takeaways – The 3 Pillars

• Take Ownership: True change starts with personal ownership, looking inward instead of blaming others helps you regain control and create emotional stability, regardless of circumstances.
• Develop Emotional Control: Move beyond "managing" emotions to mastering them. Learn to enhance confidence, calm, and self-connection so emotions serve you rather than control you.
• Shape Your Environment: Surround yourself with growth-minded people and positive influences. The right environment accelerates emotional mastery and supports sustained mental resilience.

Listeners and Viewers will come away with a different lens on mental toughness, one rooted in emotional mastery, self-awareness, and daily process habits that promote confidence and resilience. Enjoy Tuning In!

For more on this topic, check out these resources:

Blog - Why Emotional Control Matters in Youth Sport

Blog - Why You Should Meditate To Improve Your Sport Performance?

Ep295: Matt Young - How Emotional Control Builds Resilience and Freedom in Sport

Ep099: Trevor Jones – How to Deal with Overthinking on the Golf Course

Conversations With Kids - Emotional Control in Sport

Conversations With Kids - Helping Young Athletes Thrive Under Pressure

Connect with Matt Young

· LinkedIn

· Website

Connect with David Charlton

· Sign Up To The Mental Edge

· Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

· LinkedIn