Belief and Its Power
At Performance Course, we strive to replicate, practice, teach and thrive off of character development. We operate daily in the world of athletic performance, but we really view that as a platform to mold athletes and their inner character.
If you take a close look at our company logo, you’ll fittingly find the star right in the middle of it. It’s purposely put there to specifically represent BELIEF! How awesome is that? This is where it all begins.
The highest levels of performance are powered by the deepest levels of belief. To achieve and be successful at anything in life one must perform with belief.
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” –John Wooden
Do You Believe
You see, I have found that as we get older, belief is something that tends to dwindle away like the strands of an old rope. I remember as a kid, belief was like that brand new rope that my Dad bought at the store; strong, purposeful, useful and able to serve so much of the work that needed to be done around the house. As I get older, I look around and see many adults who are no longer like that brand new rope that I saw my father use. They now seem frail, unwinding, insecure and like something that has been cut apart with a dull knife.
Why is that? When did believing leave our minds and hearts? Maybe it dwindles and chips away after all the little failures we go through. Maybe we realize that belief is hard because life is hard. After all, belief is saying that I will get the job done no matter how difficult it may get. Belief is saying no matter how big the challenge, however long it takes, I will do the work. Are you willing to do that?
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” –Theodore Roosevelt
A Culture
Like almost all things in our life, belief is not something we are born with. It is something that is taught. My earliest memories of believing are that of the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, a higher being, the Easter Bunny and my Godfather pulling money from my ears. It was awesome! My mind would wander for days about the endless possibilities that could come my way. Looking back, it was a time in my life where the whole world told me that anything was possible and I believed it with every ounce of energy I had.
These beliefs are products of human culture; a framework that was taken on at a young age from our parents and authority figures like my Godfather. What you believe either empowers you or limits you. Under competitive pressure or when we find ourselves in a challenging situations our performance will either rise or sink due to how much we believe. Whether you are around people that believe or don’t believe, that is what your mindset will function when it comes to belief. That is the culture you are a part of.
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t you’re right.” –Henry Ford
It All Starts in Our Mind
Our mind is the most powerful thing we possess. In here is where we manifest and sprout belief. All winning begins in our minds first. Under pressure we do not rise to the occasion, we rise (or sink) to our level of training. Think about it. In a challenging situation more times than not the person who will lose is the one who makes a mistake. This mistake occurred because of the pressure that was put on you mentally. Many times talent is not enough nor is the physical training. You must be fully engaged mentally. YOU MUST BELIEVE. Our bodies will follow whatever the mind tells it. Those who are elite, those who call themselves champions, all win in their minds first. Think of all the comebacks that you have been a part of or seen. Belief played a massive part in them or you being able to do so.
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is a progress. Working together is success.” –Henry Ford
Teams That Believe Win
As I stated earlier, belief is something that is taught to us. It is told to us, it is shown to us, it is created in everything around us. We can thank our parents, family, friends and many coaches for that. Not to mention the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus. It is through these figures that we find out belief is not simply about individual performances but team performance.
When you have belief on a team it is now multiplied. It is like watching the Marshmallow Man from the Ghostbusters grow by the minute. One of the most powerful forces on earth to reckon with is a team that is bonded together by a shared belief in each other and their goals. All elite teams have elite belief! They share the same vision, they will do whatever it takes and they get better because they get through tough situations together. This is what belief does. It harnesses and ignites all of a team’s capabilities.
We all hold an inner power within ourselves. This power transforms our thoughts, our actions and ultimately it will dictate the majority of the outcomes you get. This power is the power of belief. When our beliefs are strong we perform smarter, better and with greater resilience. No matter what you go through in this lifetime or what it is you want, never stop believing.
