Myth or Fact? Confidence Edition

Hi everyone, it's Natalie, your mental performance coach here to de-bunk some misconceptions about confidence and it's relationship with our performance and mindset in sport.

Confidence plays a crucial role in sport performance, but it's often misunderstood! Let's debunk some common myths and highlight the facts about confidence in sports.

Myth 01: You either have confidence or you don't.

Fact 01: Confidence is a skill that can be developed through practice and experience.

Confidence can be cultivated through practice and experience by consistently putting yourself in situations that challenge you and pushing past your comfort zone. By setting achievable goals and gradually increasing the level of difficulty, you can build confidence as you see yourself improve over time. Reflecting on your successes and learning from your failures also plays a crucial role in boosting self-assurance. Additionally, seeking feedback from others and incorporating it constructively into your growth process can further enhance your confidence. Remember, confidence is a skill that can be developed with dedication and perseverance!

Myth 02: Confidence guarantees success.

Fact 02: Confidence increases the likelihood of success, but it's not a guarantee.

Confidence plays a crucial role in increasing the likelihood of success in various aspects of life. When you believe in yourself and your abilities, you are more likely to take risks, push yourself out of your comfort zone, and pursue your goals with determination. This positive mindset can lead to better performance, as you are more likely to put in the effort and persistence needed to achieve success. However, it's important to note that confidence alone is not a guarantee of success. Other factors such as skills, preparation, hard work, and external circumstances also play a significant role. Therefore, while confidence can be a powerful motivator and contributor to success, it should be coupled with practical actions and a realistic assessment of the situation.

Myth 03: Confidence means being fearless

Fact 03: Confidence is about acknowledging fear and pushing through it. 

Confidence is not the absence of fear, but the ability to acknowledge that fear and push through it. It involves recognizing your fears, doubts, and insecurities, and still choosing to take action despite them. Confidence is about believing in yourself and your abilities, even when faced with challenges or uncertainties. By acknowledging your fears and stepping out of your comfort zone, you can build resilience and grow stronger. Embracing fear as a natural part of the journey towards success can empower you to face obstacles head-on and achieve your goals with determination and courage.

Understanding these myths and facts can help you cultivate a healthy mindset and improve your performance!

If you want more assistance in building your confidence please contact us at psychmeupconsulting@gmail.com or visit our website at www.psychmeupconsulting.com for more information and resources!

Unleashing the Power of Confidence

This is Natalie, your mental performance expert, here to teach you a thing or two about the power of confidence in sport!

Confidence building is a crucial aspect of sport performance. It involves developing a positive mindset and belief in one's abilities. When athletes have confidence in themselves and their skills, they are more likely to perform at their best!

01 - What is Confidence?

Confidence is a belief in oneself and one's abilities. It implies assurance and trust that allow us to tackle challenges, take risks, face difficult situations, and create a sense of self-assurance and resilience.

There are some factors that may affect an athlete's confidence in sport and is shaped by many factors. These include our experiences, upbringing, personality traits, and the social environment around us.

02 - The “Building Confidence” Timeline

Building a strong foundation in fundamentals is the first step towards building confidence. This process is divided into several milestones.

Milestone 1: Starting Out Strong

At this stage, you begin by learning the basics and getting a firm grasp of the fundamental skill of confidence building and belief in yourself. You can't gain confidence without believing in yourself

Milestone 2: Gaining Momentum

As you progress, you expand your skill set and try new challenges. This phase involves dedicating time to practice and improvement of your confidence. Set some goals you want to improve upon in your sport.

Milestone 3: Pushing Through Plateaus

Building confidence also involves overcoming hurdles and pushing through plateaus, which is a part of the learning process. You are going to get stuck and feel like you want to quit sometimes, but this is the time to keep pushing and you will soon break through!

Milestone 4: Reaching the Summit

Finally, you master your skills and achieve your goals creating an unshakeable and confident mindset ready to tackle the challenges and be persistent with your goals.

03 - Confidence & Performance

Confidence plays a significant role in performance. Low confidence often leads to poor performance, while the right amount of confidence can boost performance and we may feel on top of the world. However, overconfidence can lead to poor performance due to the lack of regard or focus to our performance. It's crucial to strike a balance!

04 - Confidence for the Long Haul

Maintaining confidence in the long run involves many factors but a few you can start to prioritize are setting realistic goals, focusing on your strengths, and developing a positive mindset that will keep you believing in your abilities!

Thank You!

I hope this post has provided some valuable insights into the world of confidence and its impact on performance. If you'd like to learn more, attend our live digital events this month on the power of confidence.

For more information, feel free to get in touch with Psych Me Up Consulting.

Contact Information

Website:

www.psychmeupconsulting.com

Email: psychmeupconsulting@gmail.com

Phone: 585-626-5469

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Sport Psych in Action: How Can I Help My Athlete Manage Their Fears & Mental Blocks?

Hey, everyone! It's Natalie, your fear managing expert, here to provide some guidance to parents of athlete's who are mentally stuck or experiencing a block in their sport. Continue reading to learn tangible tools to being your athlete's ally.

As the parent of an athlete, you know that performing to the best of their ability requires not only physical strength and skill, but also mental toughness. Unfortunately, mental blocks can affect even the most talented athletes, hindering their performance and causing frustration and disappointment. But as a parent, there are steps you can take to support your child in managing these mental blocks and getting back on track.

In this blog post, we’ll explore some practical strategies that parents can use to help their young athletes overcome mental obstacles and achieve their full potential. 

Tip #1 - Encourage Open Communication

This tip probably seems the most obvious, but it is truly the first step to all other steps. Managing fear is a team effort. When athlete's bottle up their emotions and struggles with fear or blocks, they will often times remain stuck and overwhelmed not sure the direction to take. Encouraging communication may help your athlete speak up and ask for guidance. But I am sure you're thinking, "I have told my child that they can talk to me about anything, but when I ask how their practice was I only get a one word response". Most athlete's are embarrassed they are struggling or stuck. They may even think they are letting you down if they are not performing.

My tip if you notice your child does not open up easily, be vulnerable with them first. Share a time you were really scared or experienced something similar in your sport. When they can relate and learn that they aren't alone and fear is totally normal, they may begin to share their experiences with you, and you will be able to problem solve together!

Tip #2 - Focus on the Process, not the Outcome

In sport we often times think of the outcome, how well we are going to place, and put a lot of pressure to be perfect all the time. Always focusing on the future can lead to mental blocks due to the high demand of success all the time. High demand of success usually leads to increase pressure for skills the athlete may already perform with ease, leading to overthinking or language such as "I can't mess up" , "I have to be perfect" , or "I better not bail on this". This type of language elicit an anxious or nervous response in the body, alerting our fear response, either fight, flight, or freeze. If your athlete is experiencing mental blocks, they are probably experiencing a freeze fear response.

Therefore, if we can focus on present moment controllables such as positive self-talk, skill progression, and stress-management, your athlete will be in good shape!

"Thinking will not overcome fear, but action will" - W. Clement Stone

Tip #3 - Provide Positive Reinforcement

Acknowledging your child's progress is an important step in helping them develop a positive mindset towards their athletic abilities. By recognizing and rewarding their progress, it provides them with a sense of accomplishment and motivates them to continue improving. It also helps them develop a growth mindset, where they view mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than setbacks. This can lead to increased confidence in their abilities and a greater willingness to take on new challenges. By supporting their progress and celebrating their achievements, you can help your child become a more confident and resilient athlete who is ready to perform at their best.

Tip #4 - Seek Out Professional Help

As a former gymnast who struggled tirelessly with mental blocks, spent hours on beam not going for my series, but eventually sought out professional help and managed my fears, I know a thing or two about what works and what doesn't work. If you have tried the three tips above and your child is still struggling and not improving, it may be time to contact us. I have worked with 100s of athletes on managing fears and have watched them return to their sport feeling confident and accomplished. Fear management is challenging, but never impossible. If your athlete is struggling with the "twisties" the "yips" or any other mental block, reach out and schedule an initial consultation to get a jump start on their mental training!

Remember, Not All Athletes Are the Same

Every child is different and may require different strategies to manage their fears. Be patient, supportive, and open-minded as you work with your child to help them overcome their fears in sports. If your athlete needs more help managing their fears visit HERE to book an initial consultation.