Do You Believe?

“Coach I suck.”

For some reason these words hit me like a ton of bricks. As a coach you never want your players to beat themselves up. It’s not good for the team but it’s especially not good for the player, on the court and in life.

“You are a great player.” I responded.

“Don’t lie to me.”

Again the words hit hard. It was a moment that I had to evaluate. Am I actually lying to this kid? Does he actually suck?

Going back to the topic of speaking truth that matters. What’s the truth?

Compared to someone who played basketball since they could walk. Compared to someone who is on their way to play division 1 basketball… yeah he sucks. But for someone who just started playing, de doesn’t suck.

“No, you are a great player!”

“Please, don’t lie to me!”

Then it hit me. I can believe in this player until my face turns blue, but he doesn’t believe in himself.

That’s the thing. No matter how many people believe in you, if you don’t believe there isn’t much that can take place outside of that.

I shared with him, “I don’t like the way that you are talking to yourself. I told you the truth. If I didn’t believe in you as a player, I wouldn’t have left you in the game as long as I did. You want to play like someone with 10 years of experience, I am sorry it’s not going to happen, until you have 10 years of experience. But you can get better every game, every practice, every season. I believe in you as a player, but do you believe in you as a player?”

He was silent.

“The best thing you can do for yourself, and the team right now is work on your belief system. Can you do that?”

“Yes.”

How is your belief system?

If you want your skills to be seen at full capacity make sure your belief system is at full capacity.

Later in the season, this player went off for multiple three pointers and multiple blocks. It was his best game yet. And on top of that he started to challenge other players when they got negative and was talking doubt. It was a beautiful moment to behold, not just because he played well, but because he believed.

No matter how skilled you are in life, it will not override your belief system.

Even if others see that you are doing well, you will always live life with anxiety, shying away from opportunities, and giving up long before you see yourself with the trophy.

Believing is the first step to removing the barriers to success.

What would life look like if you believed in yourself to be a better student? A better parent? A better leader? A better writer? A better athlete? A better musician?

What’s stopping you from believing.

Believe.

You are capable.

You have what it takes.

Even if you simply just have to say it.

“I have what it takes.”

“I am capable.”

“I believe.”