Fear and mental blocks can make it feel like your athlete is going backward. You see her working hard. You see her trying. And still, the skills are not sticking.

If you are in that spot, you are not alone.

When blocks seem to get worse, it usually means she is still in the awareness phase. She has not fully learned what her brain needs yet. Instead of asking why this is happening, start asking what it is teaching her. The hard days are full of clues. Have her reflect on what went well, what did not go well, and what she learned. That is where growth starts.

When she hesitates or pulls back on a skill, that is her brain trying to protect her. You cannot force safety. Instead, ask one simple question. What can I do? Maybe that means a lower beam. Maybe it means a spot. Maybe it means going back a step and getting more safe reps. Confidence builds through repeated success, not pressure.

Think of confidence like a bank account. Every small win adds to it. Every forced attempt that ends in fear takes away from it. Protect that bank. Praise effort. Celebrate tiny progress. Even if it feels small to you, it matters to her brain.

Trust takes time. She has to build a better relationship with herself. That means patience. That means kinder self talk. The more she shows up for herself, the more self trust will grow.

If you are stuck focusing on getting the skill back right now, try shifting your focus to effort and learning. When the pressure to reach the outcome drops, progress often follows.

In this episode, you will hear
 • Why blocks can feel worse before they get better
 • How asking “What can I do?” rebuilds confidence
 • Why safe repetitions matter more than forcing skills
 • How shifting away from outcome focus helps skills stick

In this week’s episode of the PerformHappy Podcast, I share how awareness, patience, and small daily wins can help your athlete rebuild confidence and trust herself again.

Learn exactly what to say and do to guide your athlete through a mental block with my new book "Parenting Through Mental Blocks" Order your copy today: https://a.co/d/g990Bur

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