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.

How to Stick to Your Goals...Long Term

This is Natalie, Owner of Psych Me Up Consulting, providing you expert guidance on how to stick to your goals for the long haul.

Your Goals Should ALWAYS Be Changing

It's important to understand that achieving your goals is not a one-time event, but rather a process that requires consistent effort and dedication. This means that you must be willing to put in the work, and be patient as progress may not always be immediate. Remember to stay focused on the bigger picture and the reasons why you set these goals in the first place. Keeping a positive mindset and believing in yourself can make all the difference in achieving your long-term goals. With time and effort, you can turn your goals into reality and create a fulfilling life that you are proud of!

How Do I Design a Goal Guaranteed to Succeed?

When it comes to design, setting achievable goals is essential to ensure that your progress towards your ultimate goal is successful. Start by identifying the specific changes you want to make and establish a realistic timeline for completing them. Break down your ultimate goal into smaller steps, and prioritize them based on their importance and feasibility. This will help you focus on what needs to be done first and avoid feeling overwhelmed. For example, If your ultimate goal is to become a D1 athlete, what are the yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily steps that need to happen to get you one step closer to your ultimate goal?

How Can I Keep Track of My Progress?

Tracking your progress is always important in sport. Keep a record of your yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily goals either in a notebook, notes app on your phone, or a document on your computer. Really any place you will have easy access and that is convenient for you. This will help you see your progress and keep you motivated throughout the process. Don't be afraid to ask for feedback from others, such as friends, family, or a professional. This can help you refine your goals and ensure that your progress is on track.

Remember to Celebrate!

Remember to celebrate your achievements along the way, no matter how small they may seem. This will help you stay motivated and keep you focused on your long-term goals. Finally, make goal-setting a part of your daily routine by incorporating it into your lifestyle. This can include setting goals for your health and nutrition, attending goal setting events such as Psych Me Up's Live Digital Events, or using visualization and imagery to see your goals come to life. With these strategies, you can turn your athletic goals into a reality and create a determined mindset that guarantees success.