Improving Confidence In Female Athletes

25 Oct Improving Confidence In Female Athletes

I’ve been thinking a lot about confidence.

There’s a lot out there on this topic and there’s some confusion on how to truly build it. And I’m talking the steadfast confidence; the type when you know things are about to get wild, yet you plunge into adversity with grit and grace anyway. You keep your cool exterior, yet have a fire in your soul to absolutely crush it.

How is this type of confidence cultivated?

Is it bolstered by having a collection of affirmation, sticky notes plastered on your mirror that say things like “I am awesome,” “I am a superstar,” or “I am as unstoppable as Beyonce?”

Is it following motivational Instagram accounts that remind you of the boss queen that you are?

Influencers will tell you that confidence comes from the positive – the affirmations, the compliments, the meditations, the Facebook communities, the mentorship calls.

Alas, these things makes up a tiny portion of your day, until you have to face, at a minimum, the harshness of the world on your own.

Oh, so you just got off a super warm and fuzzy call with your coach? Great! Now you still have to take what you learned and face yourself and the oscillations of the world. You must continue to face failure that will discourage you, and challenges that will test you. All over again.

But the good news is: confidence isn’t developed from always consuming the feel-good things. It’s birthed from doing the uncomfortable things.

Pushing your limits in a conditioning drill.

Grinding out a heavy lift.

Making a drastic mistake on the pitch and recovering with tenacity.

The bad always exposes who is up for the task of leveling up. Confidence is just that: it’s a newfound energy, a potent one, to the next level of mind, body and spirit. Usually, it takes going through an incredible challenge to see what you’re really made of deep down.

Are affirmations, meditation sessions, and mentors valuable?

YES!

Alas, these can be used as small tools to boost your confidence when adversity does strike. However, can you maintain your mental equilibrium when the heat comes again? Can you maintain perspective that failure is a learning curve? Can you regain your self worth when something doesn’t go your way? Can you remain grateful? Can you stay consistent with these practices?

Confidence doesn’t come from looking in the mirror and exclaiming “I am awesome!”

It comes from building strength when the going gets tough (muscular, cognitive, spiritual), and being grateful for your small wins along the way.

Because guess what? You ARE a confident rock star. But you have to continue to practice it and be relentless with it, but most critically, believe it.

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