Do I Have Too High Expectations Of Myself In My Sports?

Do you often hang on to mistakes and think about them in competition?

Do you focus too much on the outcome rather than the process?

Do you worry too much about what others think about your performance?

They fail to feel confident before any competition?

Do you feel pressure to excel from expectations they feel from others?

Do you fail to trust in your skills when you go from practice to competition?

Do you tighten up and play safe when you feel pressure to succeed?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that you have too high expectations of your own athletic performance. That is great news, as excessively high expectations almost never result in high-level performance. High expectations will lead to pressure to meet those expectations. Expectations can also be harmful to confidence, because if you don’t achieve your expectations, you will start questioning your ability or lose confidence. What you really want, is to have high confidence but without the judgments that come with high expectations.

Based on your answers, you are displaying some signs that you have too high expectations of yourself. Be aware that high expectations may sabotage your mental game. In order to manage these high expectations, you may want to make a list of what you demand of your game. Now, instead of focusing on your expectations, you should replace them with more manageable goals. For example; ‘make stops on defense’, or ‘catching the next ball’, goals that focus on your role within a team.

Based on your answers, you are displaying the signs typically seen among individuals who have too high expectations of their athletic performance. Expectations are unwritten demands you have about your performance. An example of a high expectation is that you should be the top scorer on your team. Unfortunately, high expectations can hurt your confidence, as you might become frustrated or lose confidence if you don’t meet your expectations. You should strive for high confidence, however, without the judgments that come with high expectations. Make sure to replace your expectations with more manageable goals.