What does it really take to perform at the highest level… not just physically, but mentally and emotionally?

In this episode, professional soccer player Aleja Sanchez shares how her unconventional path to going pro forced her to redefine what high performance actually means. Rather than chasing outcomes, Aleja learned that sustaining success requires becoming someone who can hold it. She opens up about discovering soccer at age ten and the discipline that initially drove her forward… until it led to burnout.

After stepping away and into corporate life, Aleja made the radical decision to pursue the sport again on her own terms, ultimately landing a professional contract within months.

Along the way, she explores the inner work that transformed her performance: nervous system regulation tools for pressure moments, identity shifts that reframed her relationship to success, and holistic practices ranging from breathwork to EFT and affirmations. She also reflects on adversity abroad, team dynamics that shaped her playing time, and her broader perspective on women’s soccer as both a business and access issue.

Today, as a pro athlete and co-founder of a creative agency bridging art, music, and football culture, Aleja’s message is clear: define what joy means to you — and make decisions from there. Because true high performance isn’t just about reaching your goals. It’s about becoming someone who can live fully once you get there.

What You’ll Learn: ✅ Why high performance isn’t just physical preparation… it’s emotional and nervous system capacity ✅ How burnout can signal identity misalignment, not lack of discipline ✅ Practical tools for regulating your nervous system in pressure moments ✅ Why success only feels fulfilling when your identity evolves with it ✅ How stepping off the “expected path” can actually accelerate your growth ✅ What elite performers understand about self-talk and mental safety ✅ Why joy is a strategic decision… not a luxury ✅ How to pursue ambition without disconnecting from yourself

If this conversation challenged or inspired you, LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and COMMENT with your biggest takeaway.

🎥 Watch on YouTube 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts 📱 Watch on Spotify Follow @NinaPalDixon & @ChaiTeaWithNinaD for behind-the-scenes moments and daily insights.