Do you feel like you’ll never be able to step on stage and compete as a bodybuilder?
Here’s the thing: neither did I. But yet, irrespective of that, I tried. I didn’t let that stop me. And trust me, there were many times where I felt like I wish it had.
“I’m going to make such a fool of myself”; “I’ve documented this journey and people are going to see me fall flat on my face”.
I get it. I understand the pressure you may feel. The wariness when it comes to committing yourself fully to a dream such as stepping on stage to be judged for your physique. It’s scary! And it isn’t easy. If it was, everyone would do it, right? But having the right support and advice made it much more enjoyable for me; so I’m hoping that this article can do the same for you!
You can’t get rid of self-doubt, but you can learn to manage it
Self-doubt will always be there. You cannot get around it. It’s like a shadow. It comes and goes, depending on the time of the day, or day of the week. Therefore, rather than focusing on eliminating it (which is impossible), focus on managing it.
How? By making sure you control the “controllables” i.e. the variables that you are in charge of. Focus on nailing your training. Focus on nailing your nutrition. Don’t let things that don’t matter get in the way of you doing what you need to do, to pull you towards your goals.
All these factors are key contributors to your success – if you know that you are executing the important and meaningful tasks you’ve chosen to the best of your ability, then you know that even with self-doubt, you’re doing everything in your power to perform at your best level for this task.
Know your why and remind yourself of it every day
Stepping on stage as a competitor is cool – you get some awesome pictures, you get to document the process, you get loads of praise…. But why are you actually embarking on this process?
Knowing your why is KEY. Because let me tell you this right now: when you are so hungry you could chew your arm off, and then remember you need to go do 40min of cardio, there has to be something more than just looking good that is driving you. It’s as simple as that.
Your why doesn’t have to be one specific thing either. In fact, I always encourage clients to think about what their values are (in life), and then consider how embarking on this journey is helping them move towards their values and the things that matter to them.
Remember that prep is a choice, and if you’re choosing to get lean and push yourself to those extremes, doing so knowing that it matters and is fulfilling to your life is incredibly important. This is especially notable if/when prep and/or competing no longer feels aligned with your values – you can choose to step away from it knowing that you did what mattered most.
Surround yourself…
The people and relationships you build during prep will either make or break the process, and I don’t say this lightly. Although not everyone will (nor should) understand why you’re on this journey, seeing out the support of people who do get it and who can support you unconditionally from the inside is essential.
Therefore, my final tip and probably most valuable advice is to: (1) hire and invest in a coach who is there to support you unconditionally, and (2) work with a coach who has a team of fellow athletes who will understand and be there for you!
Why? Because these are the people who “get it”. These are the people who will turn around and smack you silly when you say you don’t feel good enough, or that you won’t be ready in time. They’ll remind you of how far you’ve come and will show you your potential. On some days, they’ll also remind you to pull your head out of your arse, and that’s okay too. They are a crucial part of the puzzle when it comes to helping you manage your self-doubt!
DISCLAIMER
Undertaking a bodybuilding prep is an extreme challenge and goal, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s important to understand the real mental and physical health risks that it poses, and to continue to check-in with yourself to make sure that the goal remains meaningful and valuable to you in the long run.
In short – when choosing to compete as a bodybuilder, experiencing a degree of self-doubt is inevitable. However, if you can learn to focus on the things that you can control and accept that your self-doubt thoughts are not one of these; if you can link the purpose of prep to your values; and if you can find a socially supportive circle to get you through – it is likely that self-doubt will not get in the way and that you will make it to stage!
