Back to school, sports, and in general the routine that seems to shape the years from September to June.
For all youth, it’s a time of transitioning back to earlier bedtimes, earlier wake-ups, and long hours spent in a classroom. Missing the summer sun and the fun that came with it.
Yet it is also a time of new excitement that comes with trying out for a new sport or a new team for the upcoming season. The nerves, the adrenaline, and the worry all wrap up into one bundle that sometimes becomes debilitating.
This summer I was discussing with a colleague how to coach someone through a tough time when their fears seemed to be standing in the way. She shared with me a mantra that I’ve adopted into my coaching, as well as my own personal self-talk scripts. It’s not rocket science, but it is sure powerful: “I have no idea what I’m doing, but I’m doing it!”
Now in most cases, you’re going to have some idea of what you’re doing, but there may be some unknowns. That is OK. Dive in headfirst. Repeat the mantra to yourself over and over. We know what self-talk and repetition can do for us. Remember, the more you practice something the more your mind and body start to adopt it as the truth and the more you’ll start to believe it.
You may not know what to expect at a tryout with a new coach, but you’re doing it! You’re going to go out there, you’re going to show them what you’ve got, and you’re going to leave it in their hands. The quick reassurance of “I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m doing it” is a reminder to you that it’s OK to have those unknowns, and it’s even more important to push through those moments. You don’t have to be a professional or an expert at everything, but it’s important that you get out there and try.
Now the statement may bring up some anxieties and some fear, and you may be reading this thinking that you wish you had the confidence to actually just say it and do it. Let this be that courage that you need to push you over that ledge of doubt. Let this be that little cheerleader on your shoulder that says you can and encourages you to try. Reflect on what you learn from trying, but also let it motivate you to do it again and again.
You may have heard the phrase paralysis by analysis. Sometimes the more you analyze, think, and question yourself, the more you talk yourself out of trying something. You over-think it and scare yourself out of taking the first step. It doesn’t have to be a monumental step, but the ‘what if’ questions have paralyzed you to the point that you cannot take any steps. Step back, repeat the new mantra to yourself, and convince yourself to just give it a shot.
So I leave you with the statement and the question, what are you going to just go out there and do today? You’ll be surprised how confident you can feel after you’ve taken that new risk. So pump yourself up and get out there, and let the possibilities take you to great heights.
Courtney Marchesin, MA, sport psychology consultant, is the mental skills coach for the Alberta Sport Development Centre-Southeast. She can be contacted at courtneymarchesin@gmail.com.
