The Mental Grind- Part 2

Confidence will fail you at some point. Mine does every time I feel unprepared. Confidence waivers in every athlete no matter how mentally strong one may seem. The hardest working, most talented, and even the game’s “elite” struggle with confidence and have to work equally hard on the mental aspects of competition as well as the actual physical grind.

The hours you spend preparing your mind can be as crucial as the hours spent working on your crossover, “hesi” and jumper. For me, it’s grinding out each day. Constantly learning, growing, and feeling great about what I’m teaching. This has helped me become more confident, for others it may be visualizing the perfect game, or the cliché of sinking the last shot on a workout. It could be putting in the extra 30 minutes in the gym or driveway when everyone else has went home. It can be a confidence booster to play your best game ever because you know you have put in so much work.

My only advice is never rely on the artificial confidence of positive affirmation. There will be days when there is no one in your ear pushing you or telling you how great you are. Can you believe in yourself more than any other could believe in you?! That’s when you will find true confidence, tap into the potential you never knew you had, and push through when you could easily quit.

It’s a grind, don’t forget to condition your mind!

Anthony