027: Turning Doubt Into Confidence: Know Thyself with Justin Cotler

2500 years ago, Socrates bought the Greek aphorism, Know Thyself into the forefront of philosophy. His point was that before you can claim to know anything, you must know yourself.

Human wisdom, he said, begins with the recognition of one’s own ignorance.

You and I, as athletes and as humans, are ignorant. We see the world through our narrow perceptive bubble. Our beliefs filter out information which could help us in pursuit of our goals. Our confirmation bias dismisses anything too uncomfortable to digest. Our own personal experience fashions a lens which distorts the colour of the world.

What does this mean for us as athletes?

We turn away from the information which is the exact data which would highlight a path of growth - the thing we say we want.

We hide from the uncomfortable truth of weakness.

We avoid situations, conversations and tests which may bring our limitations to light.

All of this results in what Justin Cotler calls the worst thing an athlete can have: doubt.

Am I fast enough? Am I strong enough? Will I miss this rep? What if I get sick again?

Or, more to the point:

Am I good enough? Do I deserve to be here? Will people still like me? Will I be happy?

Doubt is the antithesis to what athletes truly require: confidence.

In this conversation, Justin Cotler and I discuss the path athletes, coaches, and humans alike can take to becoming more confident.

We also discuss:

• The role of ego in sports
• The testing of your mindset
• Why not being talented may be your greatest advantage
• Generating self-knowledge
• And creating turning points in your life