Confidence

I had hockey practice tonight.  Coming off a week where I felt I have played some of my best hockey in a long time, I had a moment of self-realization tonight in which I saw how my confidence enhanced my performance.  Not stopping a shot wasn't a possibility that crossed my mind.  I literally feel like I have the skills to make every single save necessary.  Did I stop every shot? Not at all.  But I think I stopped every shot that I should have, and quite a few that I probably shouldn't have been able to.

Jim Taylor Ph.D. and specialist in the psychology of sport at the University of Denver calls this "Prime Confidence". "Prime confidence is a deep, lasting, and resilient belief in one's ability." I think it's why I always get excited for challenges.  I love playing against teams that I know are really good.  I love testing myself against the best.  Even when you lose to the best, it still has confidence building effects.  You can look back on those one or two amazing stops you pulled out of your ass to get yourself pumped for the next game. And losing makes you just want that next win all the more.

That's not me, but I'd love to go head to head with her!

I am a pretty competitive person by nature. I don't like to lose.  That's not to say I'm a bad loser, it's just that I like wins - small or large.  So I am working on taking the lessons I've learned in being confident from playing hockey and attempting to apply them to my professional life as well.  I am already an accomplished web designer and developer with quite a bit of experience.  But like you have to train in sports to get better, I am working to take my skills to the next level.  I know the type of job I want and I am going to work my ass off until I get it.  I'll have to be ready to go up against the best.  But I will win that new position. I'm confident. I've got a lot to offer. I'm Tori.