Back to: The Elev8 Culture Code
Pillar: Belief — The foundation of who we are
Confidence
Confidence is a belief in oneself, the conviction that one has the ability to meet life's challenges and to succeed with the courage to act accordingly.
Confidence cannot be fake or made up; it must come from a genuine place within ourselves.
Self-confidence can come from many places, none more than hard work and dedicated preparation.
When you work hard, you create a truth inside of yourself that is reliable.
The truth that you're a hard worker. The truth that you're putting in the necessary effort to win next time you're in competition. The truth earned with sweat, that tells you that you are getting better and that small setbacks won't hold you down because your development won't stop.
Confidence earned this way is solid and real, and can be drawn upon in the most difficult of situations.
Belief without experience is a very fragile thing. That's why it's so important that we BUILD the experiences that can make our belief into solid truth. We must DO, not just hope.
If we want to think of ourselves as a good hitter, we must be in the cages becoming a good hitter! If we believe we can be a loving and valuable person in this world, we must do things every day that make that a reality. Smile at others, be polite, resist hurtful comments, tell somebody thank you for an act of kindness, or volunteer to help people out in any number of ways.
These things can all turn your fragile beliefs into concrete truths. Make your life into a truth that cannot be denied. I am becoming a great athlete is something you can see yourself doing every day, and when you do, you'll build an unshakable confidence alongside it.
Confidence can also build from belief coming from outside ourselves. When somebody like a teammate believes in us, it supports our ability to act confidently.
If we believe that God, our coach, our parents, or our friends truly trust in our abilities, the fire of belief inside of us is explosive.
The important thing to keep in mind here is that we have a job to do as it pertains to the confidence of our friends and teammates.
Express confidence in them, and they will perform better and feel better. If this is reciprocated among the group, beginning with the leadership, the confidence of each individual will have no limits.
Reflect
- How does confidence show up in your game right now?
- What is one thing you will do this week to live it?