What’s in Your Wallet?

As Dr. Nate Zinsser, a mental performance coach at West Point, discusses in “The Confident Mind,” having more than enough money to buy a car when we need one changes everything. Knowing we can afford what we want puts us in the driver’s seat. We have negotiating power and confidence.

Similarly, no one can see what’s in our mental bank account. “Every positive experience, success, or constructive thought is like a deposit into your mental bank account,” he states. “Negative experiences or self-doubt act as withdrawals.”

To grow confidence, he says, we need to focus on making consistent deposits by acknowledging and celebrating small wins.

Are You a Racehorse or a Workhorse?

While we might appreciate and respect the attributes of a workhorse – they are reliable, they get things done, they carry a heavy load and they keep slogging away, day in and day out –they look like it.

A racehorse, on the other hand, is one sexy beast. It has a silky coat and its head is held high as it struts with confidence and purpose. The racehorse is treated like a treasure. It is pampered, exercised and fed well, with veterinarians, groomers and other humans doting on it.

We have the power to choose which one we want to be like, but I bet most of us behave more like the workhorse. I say, neigh to that! Let’s braid our manes, trot on out there and win some ribbons!

Practice with Intensity, Perform with Joy

If you’ve ever trained as a distance runner, you know that the months leading up to the race are grueling, demanding, monotonous and sometimes painful. Practicing for anything we want to do well means discipline and probably missing out on more enjoyable activities.

But performance is part of the business world. We are paid to perform. Coaches push athletes during training, often beyond what athletes believe they are capable of. We need to be our own coaches. That push during training and practice shows us what we can do. As we build strength and endurance, we build confidence. So, when it comes time to perform, we don’t have to feel like we are cramming for a test minutes before we sit down to take it. We did the work; we are ready to perform. We need to believe it.

However, Dr. Zinsser, says it’s a very common human experience to feel like we haven’t done enough, even when we’ve prepared extensively for a task or challenge. Here are two of his tips:

1. Focus on your “why:” Remember the purpose and importance of the undertaking and connect it to your personal values. This shifts the focus off you and your nerves.
2. Lean on past successes: Recall the times you did a great job, whether engaging the audience or winning the pickleball tournament. Check your mental bank account – it’s all there – and celebrate the small wins!

By doing the work, mentally and physically, we set ourselves up to run out there with confidence and excitement for the next challenge. Go ahead. Be the Triple Crown racehorse you know you are! FBN

By Bonnie Stevens, FBN

Bonnie Stevens is the editor of FBN. She is a career journalist and public relations consultant. She can be reached at bonnie.stevens@gmail.com.