Confidence isn’t something you either have or don’t—it’s something you build. Like a muscle, it strengthens with every repetition. But what does that actually look like in day-to-day training or competition?
The Confidence Loop
It starts with a small win. Nailing your splits during a difficult track session. Winning a face-off during a high-stakes game. Laying down a great bunt to advance a runner. These moments might seem minor, but they act as sparks. And those sparks boost your confidence so that the next time you step up to the plate, line up for a free throw, or toe the start line, you do so with a little more conviction and a little more courage.
That’s the loop. With every small win you create mental momentum.
Why Small Wins Matter
Big breakthroughs are exciting—but they’re also rare. They often depend on a number of factors including timing, circumstances, and sometimes, let’s be honest, a little bit of luck.
Small wins, on the other hand, are within your reach every single day. They’re built through consistent effort, intentional action, and showing up with purpose—even when no one’s watching.
Likewise, confidence doesn’t always come from crushing it. It often comes from repeatedly stacking proof that you’re capable—even in the ordinary, everyday grind.
When Momentum Slows
But momentum isn’t just about forward motion—it’s also about how you respond when momentum slows down or stops altogether.
Everyone hits walls. A bad practice. A tough loss. An injury. A stretch where things just don’t click. That doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re human.
What matters is what you do next.
Momentum isn’t something you have to wait for. You can restart it. Right now. With one rep, one deep breath, one intentional choice.
Believing you can shift your momentum at any time is one of the most powerful tools you have.
The loop always starts with action.
And the smallest step forward can begin a whole new cycle of confidence.
Trust us: the next action doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be intentional.
Because momentum isn’t built from flawless performances. If it were, your momentum would constantly stall—every missed shot, bad race, or tough game would bring it to a halt.
But that’s not how it works.
Momentum is built from consistency. It’s built by showing up—on the good days and the hard ones. Because every time you show up, you create a small win. And that small win becomes the spark that fuels the cycle of confidence.
The Takeaway
Small wins might not grab headlines, but they build something deeper: confidence in your preparation, in the process, and in yourself.
That’s how mental momentum is built—not all at once, but step by step. And over time, that consistency doesn’t just keep you steady—it elevates you.
It’s how good becomes great.
This blog was written by Coach Elaina.
Blair has over 13 years of experience as a Professional Dancer, Assistant Dance Captain & Cast Manager, as well as an additional 17 years of training. Over the last 3 decades, she has lived and experienced first hand the highest of highs & lowest of lows that come with pursuing a career in the Performing Arts.
As a former member of McMaster University’s women’s soccer team, Emilie intimately understands the demands and challenges athletes face on and off the field. Although she encountered many challenges as a high-level athlete, particularly struggling with self-doubt and overthinking, Emilie was able to make a remarkable transformation when she began to embrace the principles of sports psychology.
Danielle Hanus, MA
Monica Russell, MA
