7 Tips to Keep Moving Forward When You're Feeling Discouraged
Discouragement - the one word that can ruin dreams. It comes in many forms like words from an angry pro cheer coach or a kilo short from a weigh-in after months of working out.
While it’s easy to say, “Don’t be discouraged, just keep on moving forward,” it’s hard to do especially if you don’t know how. So, here are 7 strategies to use to fight discouragement so that you can keep on holding on to your pro cheer dream.
1. Develop a pro cheer plan
Discouragement can be shut out by making a pro cheer plan and devoting yourself to making it happen. If you’re a current pro cheerleader who finds it hard to dance really well, make plans to improve your dancing. Stop thinking that you’re beat-deaf and automate yourself to practicing a lot.
2. Create a pro cheer or fitness community
There are others like you who carry the same weight of emotional load. These people can be your family, friends, or other pro cheerleaders. Team up with them. If you can’t encourage yourself alone, seek motivation from them. Cheer them up as well. What good is a pro cheerleader if she can’t cheer her own up and others?
3. Beat your problem not yourself
Instead of telling yourself, “I’ll never reach my pro cheer goals. I’ll always be like this. A person who cannot commit.” Stop making excuses and say, “I’m not there yet. I have to persist!” Then find out why you can’t commit. Stay away from the cause so it may not bother you again and make you feel discouraged.
4. Show gratitude
You are blessed. You have a home for shelter, money to buy fitness equipment, food to eat, family, and friends there to support you. By counting your blessings and thanking to have them, your brain releases dopamine and serotonin - two feel-good hormones. That means bye-bye discouragement and hello to moving forward!
5. Picture out your pro cheer vision in your mind
When you’re discouraged, your mind narrows into thinking about all your audition prep mistakes and what should have been instead of life in the squad. Then, you tend to forget about the glamorous future that you envisioned a long time ago. If you find yourself being in that situation, pause and daydream of dancing with pompoms under arena light.
6. Abandon your ego
There are coaches who will make criticisms about a current pro cheerleader’s small belly fat or a dancing mistake. Even pro cheer aspirants get a fair share of these experiences during auditions. What’s important is, take it as feedback on things you should improve in. Don’t get mad or lose confidence when hearing something you don’t like. Treat it as an eye-opening challenge.
7. Stop thinking about the rewards and focus on action
Focusing your mind on an arena performance or audition day makes you less appreciative of small wins. It also incurs greater damage to your mental state when things aren’t what you expected.
For example, what if you were to perform at an NFL or NBA game and it turned out to be you’ve been replaced by another squad member? Are you going to be discouraged and leave the squad? Of course not!
You keep on doing what you do best. Your time will come when it comes. In the meantime, keep on improving. And you know what’s the best part of being patient? The actual experience is easier because you’re already well-prepared.
To prevent yourself from discouragement and keep on moving on, you need to train yourself to think in two ways: One, life is either a series of successes or challenges and completing a challenge is a reward as well. Two, make a plan and stick to it. The only thing that matters is the goal must be achieved. Discouragement is a waste of resources.
Do You Picture Yourself As A Professional Cheerleader? Get Expert Advice From Someone Who's Been There.
If you dream of joining a dance team audition but have no idea on how to get started, my book entitled Professional Cheerleading Audition Secrets: How To Become an Arena Cheerleader for NFL®, NBA®, and Other Pro Cheer Teams will guide you every step of the way.
I wrote this book because I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO DISCOVER the best tips and advice on staying fit and beautiful, adopting the right mindset, maintaining your image, and more... so you can MAKE YOUR DREAM TEAM!
My tips are based on my 20+ years of experience in the professional cheerleading industry.
Grab a copy of my book by clicking the text or image below:
