Confidence grows when athletes focus on what they can control. Research and experience show a strong link between staying anchored in the controllables and feeling more confident, resilient, and emotionally steady.
Inside your Me Circle are things like effort, focus, attitude, preparation, and response—these are 100% within your control. Outside the circle are things like coaching decisions, administrative choices, scoring, winning, and teammates’ actions. These may influence your experience, but they’re not fully controllable.
When your thoughts and energy stay inside the Me Circle, you’re more likely to feel grounded, confident, and fulfilled—regardless of the outcome.
Exercise: Draw Your Me Circle
- Grab a piece of paper and draw a circle—any size.
- Inside the circle, write everything in your sport that you can control 100%.
- Outside the circle, list things you cannot control 100%.
This simple visual helps athletes shift their focus, protect their energy, and build emotional awareness. It’s a foundational exercise featured in The Confident Athlete: The Confident Athlete: 4 Steps to Build and Maintain Confidence – Tami Matheny
