What do Lebron James, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, Jack Nicklaus, and Michael Jordan have in common? They are considered to be the best at what they do. How did they do that? Attitude, talent, discipline, and consistency; are the usual suspects. But you know what separates them from the rest? Their mindset, how they think, enables them to operate at peak performance.

I started reading How Champions Think by Dr. Bob Rotella a few weeks ago. According to Rotella, champions cultivate a confident self-image. He emphasizes the critical role of a confident self-image in achieving peak performance. He argues that champions don’t win because of confidence, but rather, they win because of a strong foundation built through a positive self-image.

There’s a story in chapter 3 “A Confident Self-Image” about how Jack Nicklaus cultivated a confident self-image that caught my attention:

The key point here is “there’s no reason to remember your misses, your mistakes”.

Developing a confident self-image also gets into “What’s the difference between it and confidence?” Yes, there is a difference between confidence and self-image. Confidence is a feeling, and self-image is a collection of beliefs about oneself. Confidence is fleeting and situational, while self-image is a more enduring foundation.

So, how do you develop a confident self-image?

Building Blocks of a Confident Self-Image

There are four building blocks to d

1. Competence: A sense of competence comes from mastering skills and demonstrating a history of success. Champions actively develop and refine their abilities through practice and preparation.
2. Positive Self-Talk: This is the key idea at the beginning of the blog post. Champions engage in positive self-talk, focusing on their strengths and capabilities rather than dwelling on weaknesses. They use affirmations and encouraging language to bolster confidence.
3. Visualization: Visualization allows champions to rehearse success mentally. By vividly imagining themselves performing at their best, they build confidence and a strong mental blueprint for achievement.
4. Association: Surrounding yourself with positive and supportive people who believe in you can significantly impact your self-image. Champions cultivate relationships with coaches, mentors, and teammates who reinforce their strengths and encourage growth.

Now you have a blueprint to create your confident self-image.

Creating Your Own Confident Self-Image

Rotella offers practical steps to cultivate a confident self-image:

• Identify Your Strengths: Focus on what you do well and build on those strengths. Compile evidence of your past successes and accomplishments.
• Challenge Negative Self-Talk: Recognize and replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations. Use empowering language and focus on your capabilities.
• Visualize Success: Regularly practice mental visualization, seeing yourself achieving your goals in vivid detail.
• Celebrate Victories: Take pride in your accomplishments, both big and small. Celebrate your progress and reward yourself for your efforts.

Benefits of a Confident Self-Image

Why should you care about developing a confident self-image? Because it’s a shortcut to operating at your best. Here are some additional benefits you should take to heart:

• Reduced anxiety and fear: A strong self-image allows champions to approach challenges calmly and confidently, reducing performance anxiety and fear of failure. More importantly, it’s not just champions who benefit; it’s everyone.
• Resilience: Champions with a positive self-image can bounce back from setbacks effectively. They believe in their ability to learn and improve and view failures as temporary roadblocks rather than permanent limitations.
• Peak performance: Confidence allows champions to perform at their best under pressure. They trust their abilities and approach competition or high-stakes situations with a winning mindset.

Bottom line: A confident self-image is not just for athletes or champions; it’s a powerful tool for anyone who wants to achieve peak performance in any area of life.