Do you typically experience your wins out loud or in silence?

A win is subjective. It can range from receiving a blue ribbon at a horse show, to completing a full course with a jump off from memory, to picking up the correct diagonal at the trot without looking. Wins are experienced in different ways based upon each, individual athlete’s personal experiences and mindsets. Conquering a longstanding struggle, developing a new skill, and making progress in a specific area are all examples of personal wins that do not always include placings at competitions. Are all these types of wins posted on social media, experienced with others around, or told to groups of people? Or are all these wins kept to yourself, with no spoken or online evidence about them? There is no right or wrong answer here. Some people are very vocal about their wins, while others are very quiet about their wins. On the flip side, some people solely rely on others to acknowledge their wins for their actions to be viewed as wins.

It may feel so nice to be congratulated and recognized by others. Finally, all your hard work and persistence is being acknowledged by multiple people! But is that what you intended all along? The attention from others can be uplifting, but it is not necessary to feel truly accomplished. To be your own biggest fan, supporter, and cheerleader is an extremely powerful phenomenon. This type of athlete doesn’t need to hear it from others to know that they are successful, worthy, and talented. Their quiet confidence allows these facts to remain unspoken. There is much power in surrounding yourself with people who support you, but keep in mind that your wins are also personal. Only you know the hard work, struggles, breakthroughs, and practice it took to get to where you are now. Others can only see in from the outside, so their perspective is very limited. Even though you may not have a title, trophy, or ribbon to show for, you don’t need to “prove” your athleticism to anyone. Your wins are wins, no matter how small they may seem or how few people may know about them.

 Strive towards succeeding and reaching your goals no matter who is watching or acknowledging your efforts. You have the most insight in your performance journey throughout the years compared to anyone else. Learn to be proud of yourself for the most minute of wins you achieve in your daily practices. These small steps of progress are what makes up the full picture of the end result of success. Fill yourself up with confidence that comes from your own recognition of your personal growth. The acknowledgement of others is not always going to be there; a lot of the time you will need to rely on support from yourself. Comments and likes are temporary, but your connection to your own performance remains steadfast. Stay connected and focused on your own process and progress. You are responsible for creating your own destiny, and you will get out what you put into it. Keep up the hard work, dedication, and commitment, and learn to win in silence.

Do you typically rely on others to acknowledge your wins, making that the only way that a win can truly feel like a win? You are not alone. Winning in silence is difficult, and most athletes want all their wins to be recognized by others in some way or another. Just because somebody didn’t see it or comment on it doesn’t mean that you did not experience a win. There is beauty in quietly winning and having the knowledge that all your hard work is unfolding beautifully in front of your eyes. Remember to be proud of yourself regardless of what others may or may not say about it. If you would like to work on learning to win in silence, please reach out!