It’s go time. This is where you need to perform at your very best. Your team is counting on you. Even you’re counting on you. But, you’re not exactly sure you can do it. Sure, you’ve practiced more than ever before and you really want to do well, but there’s always a chance you’ll fail. You’re nervous.

So, what do people tell you?

“Be confident!”

And you probably respond with something like:

“Perfect! That’s exactly what I need: to be confident. Awesome… but, how do I be confident, exactly?”

There are actually many ways to build your confidence. As you’ll see in this video from TED-Ed, confidence is built upon body language, having the right mindset, and turning optimistic thoughts into courageous action. In one of the most popular TED talks, given by Harvard professor Amy Cuddy, the way we carry our bodies influences how we feel about ourselves. By striking a powerful pose with limbs outstretched and head held high, a person can stimulate behavioral hormones, like testosterone, in their endocrine system and, subsequently, affect how they approach challenging situations.

Our mindset also affects how confident we feel. When it comes to abilities and challenges some of us have a fixed mindset while others have a growth mindset. Those with a fixed mindset can see their talents as just that, fixed. There’s nothing they can do to improve upon them; it’s as if their talents are predetermined before they’re even born. In contrast, those with a growth mindset understand that talents take effort and time to develop, but that they can be developed and improved upon. Having a growth mindset means adopting a learning process when faced with challenges. It could be that you don’t succeed, but any mistakes you make will result in a learning experience and make you even better in the future. And when you get better, you develop into a more confident person.

Finally, a simple but powerful aspect of confidence is belief. If you believe in yourself and your abilities, amazing things can happen. Confidence may be the giant final goal, but belief is the first baby step. Coupled with the growth mindset, if you belief in yourself you’re on the right path to gaining confidence through successful accomplishments sustained positive self-esteem.

For a colorful and inspiring overview of how to boost your confidence, watch the video below!

Taylor will be with Premier Sport Psychology for the summer of 2016 as one of our interns. Read on to learn more about Taylor.

Let’s start with a fun fact about yourself.
My oldest sister and I were born on the same day, April 27th, but exactly 9 years apart.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I would love to travel to Spain and try to put the little bit of Spanish I know to the test.

Do you prefer movies or Netflix?  
I honestly don’t watch either that often, but I’m a sucker for watching a good chick-flick with my sisters.

What is the best show you’ve watched on Netflix?
Friends! Loved it before it was on Netflix, and I love it even more now!

Chocolate or vanilla?
100% chocolate, I’m a chocolate extreme DQ Blizzard kind of girl.

What is the most played song on your iPod?
“Break On Me” by Keith Urban.

You are being sent to a deserted island you can bring one person and one item, who and what would you bring, and why?
I would bring Jesus Christ, because I could talk to him and learn from him forever, plus he could probably get us out of there by performing a few miracles! I would bring along lots of sunscreen, because there is nothing worse than a bad sunburn and I’m hoping it will be a sunny, tropical island.

Favorite sport to play? How about to watch?
Basketball for sure, but I would rather watch hockey, a true Minnesotan at heart.

What is your experience with sports?
My dad is a basketball coach so I pretty much grew up in a basketball gym and I have played the game since I can remember. I have coached AAU basketball teams, directed basketball camps, and I currently play at the Division I level.

What has drawn you to the sport psychology world?
I absolutely love sports and always wanted to be involved in some way. After taking psychology classes in college and seeing what sport psychology could do for my own team at Harvard, I can see how impactful sport psychology can be on not only an athlete’s performance but their entire life.

What is your educational background and future aspirations?
I graduated high school from Providence Academy, and will be a senior at Harvard University next year where I study psychology and sociology. After graduation, I hope to continue my education and pursue a Master’s and Doctorate in Sport Psychology.  

Jon will be with Premier Sport Psychology for the summer of 2016 as one of our interns. Read on to learn more about Jon. Check back next Thursday to learn more about our other summer intern, Taylor.

Let’s start with a fun fact about yourself.
In between my sophomore and junior year in high school, I traveled in remote parts of Canada for 28 days with 8 other people. We canoed the majority of the time, but also had to portage (which means carrying the canoe on our backs, while the other people carry 100 pound packs) from river to river. There were some places we went that few people have ever been before!

What is the best book you’ve ever read?
When it comes to excellence in sports, Bill Walsh’s book, The Score Takes Care of Itself, is a great read. Coach Walsh goes over the trials and tribulations of being on top of the sports world, but how it’s all worth it in the end.

Chocolate or vanilla?
That’s an easy one. Coffee.

What is the most played song on your iPod?
Tarwater (The Fighter) by The Dirty Guv’nahs. Don’t worry, there’s nothing dirty about it.

Favorite sport to play? How about to watch?
Hockey. Hockey. Hockey, hockey, hockey.

What is your experience with sports?
I grew up in Minnesota, so it was easy to fall into ice hockey. I began skating at 4 years old and played every year through high school. I also played football for three years in high school, which i continued for 4 years in college. Nowadays, I’m trying out different sports to see which one I’ll pursue next.

What has drawn you to the field of sport psychology?
After struggling, as many do, with my own performance in sports and school, I am interested in providing others with the necessary psychological skills to perform at their highest level. Research has recently alluded to how much influence someone can have on their own success, and I want to help people understand how they can make their lives better through hard work and smart work.

What is your educational background and future aspirations?
I attended Carleton College in Northfield, MN, where I studied psychology. Beginning in the fall of 2016, I will be attending the University of Denver for my Master’s in Sport and Performance Psychology. After Denver, I plan to pursue a doctorate in the field.