{"id":14068,"date":"2021-11-01T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-01T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/?p=14068"},"modified":"2025-06-05T05:10:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T09:10:27","slug":"how-athletes-can-manage-expectations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-athletes-can-manage-expectations\/","title":{"rendered":"How Athletes Can Manage Expectations"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Athletes-Who-Are-Self-Critical.jpg\" alt=\"Athletes Who Are Self-Critical\" class=\"wp-image-9025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Athletes-Who-Are-Self-Critical.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Athletes-Who-Are-Self-Critical-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Performing_with_an_Optimistic_Mindset\"><\/span>Performing with an Optimistic Mindset<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Article Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0769bf;color:#0769bf\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0769bf;color:#0769bf\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-athletes-can-manage-expectations\/#Performing_with_an_Optimistic_Mindset\" >Performing with an Optimistic Mindset<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-athletes-can-manage-expectations\/#Re-Evaluating_your_Standards\" >Re-Evaluating your Standards:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-athletes-can-manage-expectations\/#Related_Sports_Psychology_Articles\" >Related Sports Psychology Articles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-athletes-can-manage-expectations\/#The_Confident_Athlete\" >The Confident Athlete<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Do you set high standards for your performance? Do you believe that setting the bar extremely high leads to performing your best?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s look at this question in reverse. If your standards are low, will you perform at a high level?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course not. Low standards will lead to low effort. If you have low standards, you will not put in the work to improve your game. Thus, if you have low standards, you will under perform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, let\u2019s look at the opposite. Do you think having excessively high standards leads to peak performance? Is never being satisfied the key to motivating yourself to greater heights?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, excessively high standards or expectations lead to frustration and under performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Never being satisfied or happy with your performance is a characteristic of perfectionism. Perfectionism is an unattainable ideal that leads to negative emotions and less confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have excessively high standards or demand perfection, you will always be frustrated with your level of performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter if you win or lose, you will point out every mistake. When you nitpick every detail of your performance, you will become frustrated. Dwelling on all your faults and mistakes leads to low confidence and frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s clarify the difference between high standards and excessively high standards. Having high standards is the pursuit of improvement, not a demand for perfection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you have high standards, you will be more objective in your evaluation after a performance. You understand you can learn from both the positive and negative aspects of performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Recognizing your strengths keeps confidence high while still maintaining motivation to work on your game.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s examine having high standards with the following example. Fran Kirby is an English professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Chelsea and England\u2019s National Team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even after a game where she made three assists and led Chelsea to a victory, Kirby didn\u2019t appear satisfied with her play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the game, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes commented on Kirby\u2019s mindset and high standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>HAYES<\/strong>:\u00a0<em>\u201cFran\u2019s standards are through the roof, so she\u2019s always frustrated. That\u2019s the measure of her and why she is as good as she is. She thinks there\u2019s always room to improve.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here lies the misconception about standards. Is Kirby actually frustrated, or does she believe she still can grow her game by working on a few things?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A good measuring stick to determine if your standards are excessively high is how much you judges your game during every play<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you dwell on mistakes and this causes a loss of focus in the moment, your standards are probably too high and need to be re-evaluated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Re-Evaluating_your_Standards\"><\/span>Re-Evaluating your Standards:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re critical about your performance after games, ask yourself the following questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Am I demanding perfection from myself? If so, why do I need to be perfect? What do mistakes say about me as an athlete or person?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Recognizing self-sabotaging expectations and replacing with small objectives can help you have more fun and be less critical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Sports_Psychology_Articles\"><\/span>Related Sports Psychology Articles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/mental-skills-to-manage-stress-for-figure-skating\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/self-intimidation-for-athletes\/\">Se<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/self-intimidation-for-athletes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lf-Intimidation for Athletes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-stress-can-affect-sports-performance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How Stress Can Affect Sports Performance<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/pregame-stress-and-anxiety-athletes-mental-roadblock-to-success\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pregame Stress and Anxiety: Athletes\u2019 Mental Roadblock to Success<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-dca36a64-5c8f-4fcf-8dfb-da8bd663e456\">*Subscribe to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/a>&nbsp;on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/a> on Spotify<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-370496de-1ed7-41e2-a009-254e9ec866b2\"><strong>Download a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/mental-toughness-report-athletes\/\">free sports psychology report<\/a>&nbsp;to improve your mental game!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-af5321a1-562b-4266-b2e9-068b5b1e1556\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sport-psychology-training-athletes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about our one-on-one mental game coaching.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Confident_Athlete\"><\/span>The Confident Athlete <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/confident-athlete-audio250.jpg\" alt=\"Sport Psychology Cds\" class=\"wp-image-15979\" style=\"width:200px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Confident Athlete\u201d consists of 2 audio programs that include 14 days of confidence fueling exercises and a simple to follow workbook that guides you through the 14 days, helps you apply the strategies, and customizes the exercises to your personal needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let me help you put a <strong>stop to the confidence leak<\/strong>. You can learn to have greater levels of confidence in competition than you do in practice by identifying the specific ways you undermine your own confidence and <strong>how to convert your practice confidence into COMPETITIVE CONFIDENCE<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Confident Athlete\u201d is a ground-breaking system to teach you how to think like a champion and have ultimate self-confidence every time you step on the playing field, court, track, or course. The confident athletes was <strong>developed for any athlete \u2013 junior to professional \u2013<\/strong>that wants to gain confidence. However, coaches and sports parents can learn how to teach others to perform with ultimate confidence. Use my program if you want to bust a slump or just wanting higher or more consistent levels of self-confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-0b39f7aa\">\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-a74417ae gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/the-confident-athlete-cd-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GET DETAILS<\/a>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-461ab57c gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.peaksports.com\/collections\/the-confident-athlete-series-digital-download\/products\/the-confident-athlete-digital\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BUY NOW<\/a>\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Performing with an Optimistic Mindset Do you set high standards for your performance? Do you believe that setting the bar extremely high leads to performing your best? Let\u2019s look at this question in reverse. If your standards are low, will you perform at a high level? Of course not. Low standards will lead to low effort. If you &#8230; <a title=\"How Athletes Can Manage Expectations\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-athletes-can-manage-expectations\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How Athletes Can Manage Expectations\">Sport Psychology Article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9026,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[142],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports-psychology-tips"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.6.1 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Never being satisfied or happy with your performance is a characteristic of perfectionism. 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