As athletes, we always strive to perform at our best. However, there is a thin line between self-improvement and perfectionism. When striving for improvement, it’s easy to lose confidence and remember that we are capable. This is where affirmations can be helpful.
Affirmations remind us that we can achieve ambitious goals, but we don’t need to push past our breaking points to earn additional worth because we are already worthy. Speaking to ourselves positively can remind us that we are good enough.
We spoke to VIS Creators™ Alexia Inman, Ana Dorta, Charlotte Cronister, Kathryn Field, and Sydney Taylor, who shared examples of affirmations they use and how the practice has helped them.
How affirmations help
While each athlete has their own unique story and purpose for using affirmations, a common theme throughout our discussions was the importance of self-confidence, specifically how these affirmations help increase self-confidence and improve performance.
Studies that examine the relationship between self-confidence and athletic performance report a correlation. Higher self-confidence tends to improve performance in practice and during games. For example, Cronister uses affirmations during games, noting that when there is more pressure and less room to make mistakes, it’s easy to get in our heads. But she has the tools to prevent a downward spiral. “Instead of starting to get stressed and letting my confidence slip away, I know I have to make a change, and the easiest thing to do is use affirmations,” Cronister says.
All of the athletes acknowledged that using affirmations may feel unnatural at first, even ineffective. However, practicing them helps. Inman said that it was difficult to grasp at first, as she prefers fast solutions, and Field agreed. “While it might not feel like it's helping at first, we will most likely end up seeing results if we stick with it,” Field says.
“I have found that taking literally two seconds to say a word or phrase can make a huge difference and help improve our performance.”
Examples of affirmations
Each athlete shared their own unique affirmations and how they helped performance. Here are some examples.
“Remember why you started.”
“Regardless of the outcome, I love to compete.”
These affirmations help Dorta focus on the process rather than the end result. “It reminds me why I spend so much time playing my sport, because I genuinely love to play, even if the result isn’t ultimately what I’m hoping for,” she explains.
“What's for me won't pass me.”
“As athletes, confidence and positivity are important especially in tense situations,” Taylor says, explaining that positive affirmations change the way she thinks and can ultimately lead her to accomplish her goals.
“You are loved, always.”
“You are the best player on the court.”
These are some of Inman’s frequently used affirmations. “By practicing [the affirmations] and gratitude everyday, eventually those thoughts become innate,” she says. “In game, instead of tearing myself down I would be building myself up.”
“If your teammates and coaches are confident in you, you need to be confident in yourself.”
“You got this.”
Cronister mainly uses affirmations when she is struggling with self-confidence. “I have found that taking literally two seconds to say a word or phrase can make a huge difference and help improve our performance,” she says.
The examples above demonstrate that affirmations don’t have to be unrelatable or cliché. They can be meaningful and tailored to our needs. They also serve as great examples of how we should be speaking to ourselves in a way that motivates us to perform better, while reminding us that we are capable.
Although repeating affirmations may seem insignificant, the athletes confirm that they have a positive impact, especially in building self-confidence. In high pressure situations inside and outside of our sport, anything that helps your confidence is valuable.
