There are two bad habits that many athletes today engage in - and they do it without even thinking about it. The habits I'm talking about are NOT drinking or smoking.

The two bad habits I am talking about, which kill confidence are...

1. Setting unrealistic expectations
2. Engaging in self-doubt

I talk about both of these concepts a ton in my work, as expectation and doubt will cripple even a healthy level of self-confidence. Here is my conclusion after working with 1000's of athletes from many sports:

----------------------------------------------
Strict expectations will undermine
and suck the life out of confidence!
----------------------------------------------

Why are expectations so harmful to your confidence?
First, they set yourself up for a win/lose proposition. You either achieve your expectations or fail to achieve your expectations. Not a good scenario for achieving success.

Second, if you don't achieve your own expectations, it's easy to question your ability that day either during or after your performance. Essentially, you set yourself up for failure before you even take the field or court.

Here is a typical example: One of my golf students started each round with an unrealistic expectation to hit the ball perfectly every shot. When he hit his first bad or even marginal shot, he would start to analyze his swing mechanics and lose confidence in his ability to shoot a good score.

Enough on expectations - I think you get the point. What about
self- doubt? Why is doubt such a big confidence killer?

Doubt is the number ONE killer to confidence. Pessimistic or perfectionistic athletes tend to have habitual doubt, which if left to run wild through your mind can be a distraction at the least and cut off any confident-related thoughts.

Some athletes even start doubting before they get in the game or begin the competition - 'How can we win today against this team?'
However, most athletes struggle with doubt after making a mistake or performing poorly in competition.

When you let doubt run rampant and unchecked, it undermines confidence. However, athletes who can recognize doubt and turn it into statements of confidence - can overcome the negative influence doubt may have over them, which should be your goal everyday.

Confidence does not happen by chance or luck. Confidence comes from achieving success and thinking in ways that will give the best chance for success to happen.

Your Ultimate Confidence Coach,

Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D.,
Master Mental Game Coach
http://www.peaksports.com/