By: Jacob Daheim, MA

It’s game time. It’s time to perform. “Others are counting on me to do my best.” “I’ve put in countless hours preparing and getting myself ready.” Still, fear and doubt may start to creep in. “Can I really do this?” “Am I good enough?” “I hope I don’t let my teammates down.” So, what do you do when this fear and doubt starts to creep in?

Many people say, “Just be confident!”

I don’t know about you, but to me “being confident” is easy easier said then done. How can you just be confident? Do you just turn on a switch and feel confident? Are you either confident in yourself or not?

Good news: there are actually many ways to build self-confidence! Confidence is not fixed. Our confidence in ourselves can grow and change over time based on our experiences and how we think. But first, what is self-confidence? Self-confidence is feeling that you can achieve the task at hand. For example, confidence can look like: “I have no doubt I can make this free throw” or “I definitely believe I have the qualities to be the captain of this team.”

Feeling self-confident seems very empowering and freeing! So how do you get there?

Here are some quick strategies that could help improve your confidence:

1. Cue words/mantra. Some athletes like to develop or a word or phrase that brings up feelings and memories of confidence. They can then use that cue word during certain parts of practice and competition to set them up for success.

2. Act confidently. Your thoughts, feeling, and behaviors are related. If you ACT confidently, the more likely you are to feel confident.

3. Reflecting on past success. Often, we are much more confident when remember times when we have succeeded in the past. So maybe think about your best performances or past victories.

4. Imagery. Taking some time to imagine succeeding or completing a task before you do it can drastically increase your confidence. If you can imagine yourself doing it, then you are more likely to believe that you can do it. (check out the imagery blog for more info)

Providers at Tackett and Bradstreet can help you on this journey and try and help you have confidence like the greats. Muhammad Ali once said, “I don’t think it’s bragging to say I’m something special.” You are something special too and let us help you realize that.

Quote of the Day: "Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent."

– Eleanor Roosevelt (First Lady of the US) –

Joke of the Day: Why did the picture go to jail? Because it was framed.