How to Stop Worrying About What Your Coach is Thinking

How much time do you spend thinking about what other people are thinking about you?

You know the thoughts…

• I wonder how my coach is going to respond to that mistake?

• My teammates are going to be so mad at me for that.

• That college coach isn’t going to want me if I mess up.

I like to call this being stuck in someone else’s head. Instead of focusing on yourself, you’re in their head trying to figure out what they are thinking about you.

This is not the place you want to be.

It makes you feel anxious because you’re not quite sure what they are thinking, but your mind is definitely going to the worst case scenario.

You start to doubt yourself and question what you do because you want to make sure someone else is thinking positive things about you.

It changes the way you perform. You’re timid, hiding in the game. And the result of being so on edge only leads to making more mistakes.

And this creates a cycle of worrying about what they think → making mistakes → stressing even more over what they think of the mistakes → not performing how you want.

It’s like the hamster wheel that goes round and round and you can’t get off.

BUT…there is a way off!

Getting out of other people’s heads and putting the focus back on yourself is the first step. Once you are able to do that, you can shift your thoughts around what others are thinking about you.

Step 1. Putting the focus back on what you do control.

This will require you to bring awareness to what you are thinking about. And when you become aware that you’re in someone else’s head you want to make adjustments.

Use these questions to adjust your focus from what others are thinking about you to what is in your control.

• What do I need to do in order to perform my best?

• What would help me right now?

• What actions do I need to focus on to be successful?

• What is my responsibility or role for my team?

These questions will force you to focus on what is in your control. It will allow you to put your focus where it matters and on the things that will lead to the results you want.

Step 2. Shifting the way you think about other peoples thoughts of you.

The biggest thing here is that you get to choose what you are going to think. Even when it’s in regards to what other people are thinking about you. Let’s look at some examples.

• Let’s say you make a mistake on the field, and your mind usually goes to “my coach is going to be so mad I made a mistake.” This thought isn’t going to be helpful. So you can shift this to “My coach put me on the field because he trusts me.”

  This shift in thinking allows you to stay positive with yourself and remain confident.

• Let’s say your coach yells at you after a mistake and your mind goes to “My coach is mad and thinks I’m terrible.” Again, this thought isn’t helpful especially because your coach didn’t use those words, you chose them. So you can shift this to, “My coach is yelling because they care and know I can do better.”

  This shift also feels a lot more reassuring. Instead of taking it personally, you see they have your best interest at heart.

Using this two step process to get out of other people’s heads is a game changer.

It lifts the weight that you’ve been carrying and allows you to focus on you and play your game. You’re confident in yourself. You play the way you know you can. You’re enjoying it. And rather than worrying what others think, you are putting your focus on what will get you the results you want.

We master the skills of becoming aware of your thinking and making mindset shifts in the Athlete Ascension Program. This is a process we go through beyond what others are thinking about you. It also comes up when you’re making comparisons, stressed over the outcome of competitions, or doubting yourself regularly.

If you are ready to become the athlete YOU KNOW you can be, schedule a consultation.

We will elevate your mindset and master the skills necessary to create a mentality that takes you beyond your full potential!