Many high-performers are under the impression that they have to feel like “the best one out there” in order to win, excel and thrive. Is that you?
Thinking that you need to be fully confident before you perform is a trap. Experience and growth is what will give you confidence. Doing the work, practicing and gaining appreciation for yourself is how you’ll gain confidence. If you continue to wait, or continue to listen to doubt, you’ll never gain the confidence you’re seeking.
Confidence is about your belief in yourself to do what you’re capable of, regardless of the task, event, environment, competition, or stakes. It doesn’t mean that you won’t have worry or doubt. It means that you trust that you can continue, push through and perform your best in spite of your doubts.
If you’re going after BIG things in training, sport or life – you will wonder if it’s possible. You won’t know for sure if you can. The future and your potential is uncertain. So, don’t allow your fears or concerns to impact your confidence. Go forward anyways. Set yourself up for success and do all that is in your control to be proud of how you go about it (whatever it is).
To get more confidence, you must practice doing hard things, persevering and being the athlete you want to be in situations like; struggling in front of others, practicing weaknesses, getting back up after a mistake or failure, showing up nervous, facing your fears, asking for help, putting yourself out there again and again, competing before you “feel” ready.
As you do this, and refine your mentality, you’ll become more and more confident in yourself. You’ll have the experience to rely on, and the learning lessons under your belt. You’ll trust that you can overcome and prevail no matter what’s going on. You’ll believe that you’re capable and you’ll be able to rely on your skillset (physically and mentally) to take you where you want to go. But, you have to do the work.
So, dive in, try, fail, mess up, surprise yourself, build your strategies, lose, stumble, gain experience and KEEP GOING. Train your mindset as you practice. Don’t wait to have confidence before you move forward. Go forward now. Learn all that you possibly can in the process and continue to practice being the person who you want to be.
Pre-performance thoughts that may be helpful going into a workout, event, game or competition
“I get to do this”
“I’m grateful to be able to”
“I’ve prepared myself to the best of my ability”
“I can’t wait to be pushed to my limits”
“It’ll be a blast”
“Stay focused on my purpose and plan”
“I choose this because I love to see what I’m capable of”
“Adapt, adapt, adapt”
“Struggle is growth”
“Respond to adversity in a way you’ll be proud of”
“Be who you say you want to be”
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I agree. You have to do the no pain no gain to gain the confidence that you are looking for!
Hey, super posting and very educational, I follow your blog with pleasure.
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Great post on confidence. I love how you pointed out that confidence doesn’t mean the absence of worry and doubt. The examples of pre-performance affirmations are fantastic. -Ryan
The great angst of modern life is this: No matter how hard we try, no matter how successful we are, no matter how good a parent, worker, or spouse we are it’s never enough. There is always someone richer, thinner, smarter, or more powerful than we are, someone who makes us feel like a failure in comparison.
Agreed, You always have good humor in your blogs. So much fun and easy to read!
I’m going far away from any ‘structured’ society and living where time and money does not exist, just me and my surfboard and a shack that borders the ever fulfilling rainforest
What a nice post , a great job indeed. Thanks and appreciates your work.
Well done. Fitness Flex | Women Sportswear | Sports Bra
I too was also in the same situation same as you, my friend. My classmates laughed at me when I was reading or pronouncing someone’s name that was harder for me to pronounce. I still remember that. Those dark memories are the things that were very hard for me to forget. But now is the time I should change forgetting what happened to me in the past and start transforming myself into a better version of myself.
I think one of the best ways to build confidence is to Get rid of the negative people around you who put you dow