If you think you can do something, it turns out you actually perform better. But how much influence does your brain have on your athletic performance?
“Fake it till you make it,” goes the famous saying. It means: act like it, until you become it. This form of self-deception might sound strange, because deep down you know you’re not (yet) as good as you’re pretending to be.
But guess what? Positive self-deception works! It reduces stress, creates a more positive self-image, raises your pain threshold, boosts motivation — and altogether, this can lead to improved performance.
A study among swimmers showed that those who used self-deception more often qualified for the national championships.
And if that works in elite-level competition, it can also work for personal goals: passing a course, exercising more, lifting heavier weights, becoming super fit, quitting smoking, or simply being more relaxed and happy.
What if you fail sometimes? Are you doomed to fail forever? No way — see failure as part of the process.
Of course you’ll fail sometimes, that’s totally normal. Even here, self-deception can help: tell yourself you’re the kind of person who bounces back immediately after a setback.
Believe that you already are who you want to be. Believe you can do it — then act accordingly, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Fake it till you make it!