Most athletes feel pressure when they adopt expectations from others, such as coaches, parents, or teammates, or have their own strict expectations about how they should perform. Expectations are what you demand of yourself when you perform or what you think others demand of you. You naturally want to meet your own expectations as well as the expectations you feel from others.
When feeling pressure to win or play well, you’ll most likely experience the signs that accompany fear of failure, which include anxiety, tension, fear, or worry about results. In addition, your performance might feel controlled or tentative due to lack of trust in your skills. Accept the fact that pressure comes from your own thought process, expectations, and how you interpret your skills compared to the competition. Take control of your mental game by overcoming expectations that instill a feeling of pressure. Embrace important competitions as a reward for your hard work and dedication.
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