The Power of Self-Belief

Most, if not all of us, will experience moments or periods of self-doubt. This is perfectly natural; if you are doing something that is challenging you will inevitably ask yourself, "Can I really do this?" It is through experience and overcoming adversity that we truly learn what we are made of. Hard times make tough people, and once you face difficult circumstances you learn that you have more intestinal fortitude than you originally thought. The power of self-belief isn't innate; it is something that can be developed and strengthened over time.

Negative thoughts can be very powerful and difficult to defeat. I am often reminded of the old Henry Ford quote: "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." The human brain is hardwired to remember negative events far more clearly than positive events, and the inevitable mistakes that occur when learning a new skill are often interpreted as negative events. I see these mistakes as positive opportunities for correction; this is why teaching and coaching must involve encouragement and positive reinforcement, while still making corrections and emphasizing accountability. Success breeds confidence, and confidence ensures continued success as long as you focus on doing the little things right. Nothing creates more confidence than doing something that you did not think was possible.

Once you finish a hard workout, shed a few pounds, or complete your first half marathon (as one Total Results recently did), that accomplishment can never be erased. If you have done something once, you can do it again. Coaches that take over losing programs often face the difficulty of getting their players to believe they can win, especially if they start the season by losing a few games. The breakthrough occurs when what they do in practice transfers into a real game scenario, which leads to a win. That first taste of success is self-perpetuating, which leads to belief in yourself. It is no different in the field of exercise.

The mind controls the body. Sure, there will be some days when you don't feel like exercising. You might be tired, stressed, and overscheduled, but don't break the commitment that you made to yourself. You cannot control most of life's circumstances, but you can always control your effort, attitude, and focus. Don't take the easy way out! Positive thinking can move mountains. When you are pushing on that movement arm and it hardly seems like it will budge, continue to give your best effort. Even when you think you cannot go on, always believe that you can. Take pride in what you are doing; you are working harder than most of the people on this planet.

Another quote from the esteemed Henry Ford: "Anyone who keeps learning stays young." Not only do we want to help you develop stronger muscles and improved conditioning, we also want to develop your ability to believe in yourself. With the proper mindset, the sky is the limit. We believe in you!