MINDBUILDING: MY MENTAL PREP JOURNEY TO IDFA 107

-Chapter 4-
8 weeks out

    Confidence - it can make you or break you. Last week it broke me. I have been noticing more lowlights than highlights the last few days, which lead to discouragement, frustration, and negative self-talk. In my search for posing videos, I found that I started to compare myself to others. I started to worry about posing and how little time I had left to work on my weaknesses. The cues I implemented worked at times, but I needed something more to get me out of the downward spiral I was starting to give in to.
    
    Now I am pretty sure my experience is relatable to you in some way or another. We all have bad days where we have less confidence in our skills and abilities and question why we are doing what we are doing. It is easy to get caught up in the negative, so it is important that we become aware of not only what brings us down, but what brings us back up as well.
    
    As I have been mentioning, reflection is a very important process and it will always be the first step to behavior change. As I look back on these last few days, I notice that comparing myself to others and worrying about the unknown is a waste of time and leads me feeling pretty low. I also notice that the times that I did feel more positive was due to realizing successes (I finally learnt how to flare my lats), being around supportive people, and refocusing by doing something that brings me back up.
    
    With that said, here are some strategies that you can start to implement to make sure you build on your confidence everyday. Yes - I said everyday. They should be used to prevent that downward spiral from happening.

1. Be aware of what brings you up and what brings you down - at the end of the day reflect on your different moods, and at the end of the week, try to see if there is a similar pattern going on. Knowing what brings you down can help you manage certain situations better; and knowing what makes you feel good can be used to make your refocus strategy.

2. Surround yourself with positive vibes - get rid of the people who are not supportive. Make sure you know who is in your support network and remember to thank them! These people should be supporting you on your bad days, and not just your good days.

3. Pat yourself on the back - okay maybe not physically, but make sure you are realizing your accomplishments. Start a Highlight Journal if you haven’t already. By noticing the positives you are steering your focus away from the negatives.

4. Know your strengths - list all the things you are good at and keep it in plain sight. If you are not sure what goes on that list, ask around. This should serve as a tool to help you on those days when you feel like giving up and find yourself saying, “I suck”, or “I’m not good at this”. Make sure to leave some space at the bottom so you can keep adding to it.

    Overcoming negative thoughts is not easy, and these strategies must be practiced in order for you to benefit from them. As IDFA 107 is quickly approaching, I will make sure to add these strategies to my mental skills training program. Preparation is getting harder and harder and I am starting to truly test out my mental toughness. However, I know that if I practice and implement the proper tools and strategies, it will all be okay!



"Be confident.
Too many days are wasted comparing ourselves to others
and wishing to be something we aren't.
Everybody has their own strengths and weaknesses,
and it's only when you accept everything you are - and aren't -
that you will truly succeed."
​- Unknown


Edited by Kimiko Hache