How to Be Proactive With Your Confidence
After a loss or a couple bad games, does your confidence drop?
Do you feel like you’re stuck and can’t pull yourself out?
Are you thinking the next game will also be a struggle?
Steph Curry, who’s probably my favorite athlete right now, has had a fairly rough post-season this year…
He suffered an MCL sprain back in March and has been questioned about the stability of his mind and body since.
In Game 3 of the Finals on Sunday night against the Rockets, the Curry we all know re-emerged. He had 35 points, 6 rebounds, 13-of-23 shooting, and five 3-pointers. After a bucket in the third quarter, Curry shimmied and yelled:
“THIS IS MY (expletive) HOUSE!”
Curry also commented on his preparation and mental state. He said:
“I saw the ball go in, and from there I was in the right place of mind… I’m feeling good.”
After the Warriors’ 126-85 victory over the Rockets, Curry stated:
“You can’t press, and never lose confidence.”
Even though Curry has struggled in the post-season thus far, he stayed confident, continuing to believe in his ability.
Curry’s confidence doesn’t waver no matter his production on the court.
Confidence doesn’t change for him in the face of adversity or success. He’s always the same player and believes in his ability and skills each time he steps onto the floor.
Regardless of a string of bad games, Curry’s confidence remained at a high level and because his belief was unwavering, he made the comeback he did in Game 3.
So, how do you get confidence like Steph Curry?
You have to be proactive with your confidence. It has to be something you establish before you step onto the floor.
You need to remind yourself of your strengths and successes, and that you’re a great athlete.
Additionally, like Curry, you should have good mental preparation… “See the ball go in.”
Also, use preset confident phrases you can say to yourself during a game, such as, “I’m a good player,” “I can make any shot,” “I can defend any player” or, “THIS IS MY HOUSE!”
You might have been playing your sport for a while and working on your confidence through those years. It’s not fair for you to throw confidence out the window after a few bad games or losses.
Remember Steph Curry’s comment:
“Never lose confidence.”
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- How to Remain Confident When Behind
- How to Not Be Over Confident in Competition
- How to Play More Confidently in Sports
*Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on iTunes
*Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on Spotify
Download a free sports psychology report to improve your mental game!
Learn more about our one-on-one mental game coaching.
The Confident Athlete
“The Confident Athlete” consists of 2 audio programs that include 14 days of confidence fueling exercises and a simple to follow workbook that guides you through the 14 days, helps you apply the strategies, and customizes the exercises to your personal needs.
Let me help you put a stop to the confidence leak. You can learn to have greater levels of confidence in competition than you do in practice by identifying the specific ways you undermine your own confidence and how to convert your practice confidence into COMPETITIVE CONFIDENCE.
“The Confident Athlete” is a ground-breaking system to teach you how to think like a champion and have ultimate self-confidence every time you step on the playing field, court, track, or course. The confident athletes was developed for any athlete – junior to professional –that wants to gain confidence. However, coaches and sports parents can learn how to teach others to perform with ultimate confidence. Use my program if you want to bust a slump or just wanting higher or more consistent levels of self-confidence.