Mind Over Matter: Confidence Rules!

     Last month’s article addressed physical literacy and its impact on today’s youth.  The theme of physical literacy will continue to be mentioned to encourage all to improve the state of their lives in every aspect.  This article will address the aspect of confidence and its role in youth, adult, and athletic development.  Athleticism is more than the involvement in sports; it relates to a larger dynamic regarding psychological factors.  There is so much emphasis placed on performance in sports that it sometimes eclipses the importance of psychological ability.  The same holds true in life for the general public.  When we consider a baby’s look of delight when he or she takes that first step, it can be understood that this is the beginning of a level of confidence that must be developed.  We can learn so much from our youth.  In sports, there is also a high level of support that is shown when athletes compete to help them achieve their goal.  The message that sports gives us is that confidence is necessary in every day life.  There are factors pertaining to confidence and practical techniques to improve confidence that will be discussed next, thus giving a new perspective in overcoming struggles to maintain standards for living, especially for our youth.

     Confidence is full trust; belief in the powers or reliability of a person or thing.  There is an ideal performance state that we can apply to cognitive function and benefit from just the same.  Athletes have reported these characteristics:

• Absence of fear-No fear of failure

• No thinking about or analysis of performance

• Narrow focus of attention concentrated on the activity itself

• Sense of effortlessness

• Sense of personal control

• Distortion of time and space (1).  

 Now, it sounds like this would work in a perfect world, and we all know that doesn’t exist, but let’s take a look at how we can apply these characteristics to be better in our mental space in life, and also understand that there is a physiological (bodily function) and psychological connection that determines individual development relating to these attributes.  The first three characteristics have one thing in common: knowing how to consciously have a sense of perspective.  The last three characteristics are synonymous with being secure with one’s identity.  Effortlessness, self control, and manipulation of time are traits that indicate a mature level of consciousness that needs to be developed.  Once we understand these six nuggets of knowledge, there is no limit to the possibilities of great things we are capable of doing.

     Dr. Gilson of the Northern Illinois Phys. Ed. and Kinesiology Dept. have also outlined four factors in confidence: mastery experiences, observation, verbal persuasion, and physiological perceptions (3).  These play an important role in the maturation of our consciousness for improved alertness.  Improving our alert level improves our motivation level, which is very important for sustained confidence.  Intrinsic motivation and Achievement motivation are two types that impact us the most (1).  Intrinsic motivation is the desire to be competent and self-determining.  We all possess this ability; we just need to acknowledge it.  Achievement motivation relates to an athlete’s wish to engage in competition, or social comparison where two personality traits can be seen: the motive to achieve success (MAS) and the motive to avoid failure (MAF) (1).  These traits also exist in the general public, but the balance between MAS and MAF may be hard if we are not careful.

     The relationship between athlete and coach is very dynamic and various strategies are used to improve an athlete’s mental focus.  One practical technique to improve confidence that we can also benefit from is understanding our personality type: introvert or extrovert (1).  Extroverts have a tendency to seek outward stimulation to build confidence, where as introverts have the ability to increase the arousal to meet the needs to complete a task.  It would behoove us to know our own trait in order to arrive at a desired outcome of any goal.  Goal setting is another technique where progressively challenging standards are pursued with a defined criterion of task performance that increases the likelihood of perceived success (1).  Basically, our standards coupled with the right motives must be enough to reach what we expect.  Lastly, mental imagery or visualization is a technique that we can use to increase the potential of experiencing what we desire and it strengthens our resolve to make our dreams a reality.

     There are many parallels between sports  and every day life issues, and there is so much that we can learn from the mind of an athlete.  During these summer months, our youth need to understand that they have the potential in them to engage in constructive activities that build confidence.  As adults, it’s time to graduate from being sports fanatics to participants in being a good example for our youth to overcome adversity by using the same mental techniques that we admire in athletes.  Mind over matter is not just a theory; we can be true representatives as we travel on journey of physical literacy.

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1. Baechle T, Earle R. Essentials of Strength and Conditioning (3rd ed). Baechle T and Earle R, eds. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2008.

2. Geither C, McKenney D. Strategies for Aging Well. NSCA Strength and Conditioning J. 2010; 32(5): 36-52.

3. Gilson T. Outcomes of Confidence in Sports Training Settings. NCSA Strength and Conditioning J. 2010; 32(5): 91-96.

4. Robinovich S, et al. Prevention of Falls and Fall-Related Fractures through Biomechanics. ACSM’s Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. 2000; 28(2): 74-79.

5. Rose D. The Role In Preventing Falls Among Older Adults. ACSM’s Health and Fitness J. 2015; 19(3): 23-29.