Who Moved My Confidence as an Athlete?
Lorena Zuleta ??
Life Coach || Athletes Branding || Content Creator || Marketing || Mentor. I help athletes to cope with their fears through a personalized mental coaching program / Former Pro Volleyball player ??
What is confidence? Why is it so vital for athletes? And why does my confidence change from day to night? These are some of the questions athletes typically ask me when we talk.?
"It feels like someone has moved our confidence around like chess pieces," Anna once told me.
We all know confidence varies from person to person, and we can define it as a belief in our abilities, qualities, and judgment.?
Yes, confidence is definitely necessary because it allows athletes to trust their abilities and feel self-assured in their decisions and actions. Without confidence, athletes may feel uncertain and hesitant regarding their performance and unable to reach their full potential. This can contribute to a lack of focus and motivation, leading to decreased performance. For instance, a basketball player who doesn't have confidence in their shooting ability may hesitate to take an open shot, leading to missed opportunities to score.?
"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." Michael Jordan
?? Many signs can indicate whether we have low confidence. Some common signs include:
A lack of confidence can manifest as a fear of failure, which prevents us from taking risks. It can also lead to a lack of motivation and interest in the sport we practice, as one may not feel capable of succeeding.
?? Our confidence can fluctuate and may be affected by external factors such as stress, fatigue, and personal life events. For instance, when faced with an upcoming match, an athlete with low self-confidence may feel overwhelmed and pessimistic about their performance, leading to decreased motivation to play or train.
Some athletes may generally have high confidence but also moments of low confidence. This means that confidence levels can fluctuate. Athletes who have trained not only on the technical side but also on their mental side can cope effectively with falls and recover quickly.
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?? You can do a few key things to prevent your confidence from fluctuating too much.
1. BEING HONEST WITH YOURSELF AND UNDERSTANDING YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES IS ESSENTIAL. ?? This way, you can be realistic about the situation you're in and the challenges you're facing. For example, if you know you're not skilled at a particular technique in your sport, you could seek help from your coach or teammates. You could also spend extra time before or after your regular practice to train on this skill.
2. DON'T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS.??? ♀? Everyone has a unique journey, and there's no point in comparing yourself to someone else's success or progress. Emphasize this by reminding yourself that success is personal and no two people's paths will be the same.
3. DON'T LET YOUR EMOTIONS CONTROL YOU. ?? Acknowledge your feelings, but don't let your emotions dictate your actions or decisions. For example, when you feel discouraged, take a few moments to pause and reflect on your progress, then create a plan to achieve your next goal.
4. PRACTICE SELF-COMPASSION. ?? Be kind and understanding towards yourself, especially when you make mistakes or have setbacks. This allows you to be more objective and better understand the situation. It also helps motivate you to try again and not give up. For instance, if you fail to reach a goal, you can tell yourself, "I'm not perfect, and that's OK. I can learn from this and try again."
Remember, you may not control the surrounding things that can affect your confidence, but you are absolutely in control of how they affect you and the importance you place on them in your life. Begin to recognise and take control of the things in your hands, and you will begin to see positive changes.?