Embrace your Insecurity

Good morning good day good evening wherever you are this is David Sammel with another nugget. Today I’m going to talk to you about insecurity which is very pertinent to Liam after a very good Wimbledon. I have purposely planned a quick turnaround because after the highs and loss in the 3rd round of Wimbledon, it is a sign of confidence and maturity to put that all aside and focus on the next step here in Newport. I’m pleased to tell you that he started well and focused with a win today. While it may be difficult for us to accept, insecurity is a universal human condition. No matter how successful a person becomes, insecurities may arise quickly when faced with a new challenge. If we recognise that when these insecurities emerge, we don't have to be afraid of them, then we can learn to manage them. They can be the fuel we require to realise that if we focus on our job and know that it is normal to doubt, then it is equally normal to know that despite our insecurity we can perform and get through the challenge and emerge stronger than ever. A tennis player begins each week in round 1 of a tennis tournament, regardless of whether they won the previous one. Players often obsess over their game leading up to a tournament, to the detriment of their performance. When a player begins a match, they are almost always nervous, even if they have been winning a lot. It is important as a coach to help players recognise and accept insecurity as normal and to use it as motivation to focus on their processes, the things they can control. This brings stability and calmness because good routines are a source of comfort and familiarity. As our performance improves the more confident we are in our abilities. When a tennis player trusts their game it is far easier to get some rhythm going and slip into a flow state. When we are in flow all our insecurities disappear. We are able to focus purely on the job at hand. Because nothing in life is certain we will always be plagued with some insecurity. Personally, I think this is life’s way of keeping us humble and from complacency, teaching us to take nothing for granted. A big part of mental strength is acceptance and then learning how to manage ourselves through various challenges and adversity.