Stop Mentally Benching Yourself
HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED OUT A SCENARIO IN YOUR HEAD BEFORE IT EVEN HAPPENS?
It used to be the story of my life. And it was the most catastrophic version of the scenario… which never ended up happening anyways. Does this ever happen to you? In college, this was how I mentally prepared for practices and games. I would think of the absolute worst-case scenario that could happen like missing a game winning foul shot or forgetting a play and being yelled at by my coach… but before I could even get to how I would react to the train wreck playing out in my head; I would get anxious about the 1% possibility of it happening and forget to resolve it.
I was never the hero in my own story because I was defeated before I even gave myself a chance. We do this in life, work, relationships, etc. & then it paralyzes us. I like to call it “mentally benching” ourselves because it takes us out of our game and throws us on the bench to be a spectator in our life. Truth is, I wish I had the awareness then to know how much I was benching myself & how to change it.
HERE ARE 3 WAYS YOU CAN STOP MENTALLY BENCHING YOURSELF AND START TAPPING INTO YOUR FULL POTENTIAL.
1. LEARN TO SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
We mentally bench ourselves when our worth is wrapped up in what we DO & accomplish. Learning to identify the qualities that make you unique without accomplishing anything is a great exercise for those who tend to wrap their entire identity in what they DO, not who they ARE.
2. BE AWARE OF YOUR OWN SELF-SABOTAGE BEHAVIORS
I once heard that the only way to overcome self-defeating thoughts and behaviors is to manage your emotions better. If you are focusing on self-defeating thoughts, you are engaging in a form of self-sabotage. There are many reasons why we self-sabotage; lack of self-worth, fear of failure, fear of success, wanting to feel in control or place fault to justify our actions. Make an attempt to understand why you are engaging in self-sabotage and the patterns of your thoughts. Usually developing a plan to combat those thoughts & actions are helpful. Write down your self defeating thoughts next time & read them back to a teammate, coach, or friend. Accountability is a great way to check your self sabotage behaviors.
3. DON’T WAIT TO ASK FOR HELP
If you think you can handle everything on your own, you’re already mentally benching yourself. One thing I wish I did more of is to ask for help instead of trying to fight through on my own. Don’t let your pride get in the way of reaching your full potential. Whether you’re a collegiate athlete, been lifting in the gym for decades, or are just starting out – you can always learn something from someone. Shift from a perfectionist mindset to a learning mindset.
YOU DESERVE TO BE THE HERO IN YOUR OWN STORY.
Give yourself the opportunity to reach your full potential in your business, life, and relationships. If you’ve been struggling with self-sabotage, negative self talk, or just feel off your game lately; you don’t have to tackle it alone. Try these techniques out and let me know how they work for you!
Be kind to yourself,