Have you ever felt incredibly confident during practice, only to have that feeling vanish the moment a big competition starts? In my Master’s research, I wanted to find out why some athletes have “unshakeable” confidence while others feel theirs is constantly up and down.
The Secret: Things You Can Control vs. Things You Can’t
I looked at the different places athletes “get” their confidence from. I found that these sources fall into two categories:
- The “In Your Hands” Category: Things like how hard you practiced, how well you prepared your mind, and how you carry yourself.
- The “Out of Your Hands” Category: Things like having a lucky day, playing in a nice stadium, or even getting praise from other people.
What I Discovered
My study showed a very clear winner: Preparation. Athletes who built their confidence on their own physical and mental training had a belief in themselves that lasted much longer and stayed stronger under pressure.
Surprisingly, I found that relying too much on social support (cheering and help from others) can actually make your confidence more fragile. If you only feel good because people are telling you you’re great, your confidence might break the moment you are alone on the field.
The Takeaway for You
If you want a confidence that doesn’t disappear when the pressure is on:
- Focus on your work: Your practice and your mental drills are the only things you truly own.
- Don’t rely on luck: “Feeling lucky” is great, but it’s not a solid foundation.
- Build your own fire: Support from others is nice, but your deepest belief should come from the work you did when no one was watching.