Turn Practice into Unshakable Self-Belief

When Monique Currie first joined the Mystics, her jump shot was inconsistent. She knew she had the raw tools, but every game revealed her nerves under pressure. Her coach, Mike Thibault, didn’t tell her to “just believe” or to “fake confidence.” Instead, he designed a simple drill: every morning before breakfast she’d take 50 shots at the same spot on the court, focusing on form, breath, and follow-through. No scoreboard. No cheering crowd. Just the repetition.

At first, the basketball swooshed through only half the time. A stray breeze or a tired arm would send the ball spinning. Monique’s frustration would mount—but she stuck with it. Day after day she headed onto that early court, lacing her sneakers, feeling the chilly air on her face, hearing her own heartbeat and the echo of the ball on hardwood.

By mid-season, amidst the thundering fans and buzzing lights of a packed arena, Monique found her rhythm. Her coach had moved her drill to game time: before every critical possession, she performed two mini bounce passes and a mental play-by-play of her form. The result: a 20% increase in her three-point shooting accuracy during the playoffs.

This transformation wasn’t magic; it was mastery. Sports psychologists call it self-efficacy in action: when you practice a specific skill enough, you internalize the belief that you can succeed under pressure. Monique’s quiet confidence radiated through her play, fueling not just her shots but her entire presence on the floor.

You can do the same—pick a single stretch of your work or life that makes you freeze, and schedule short, focused practice sessions. Whether it’s negotiating, public speaking, or troubleshooting code, commit to daily repetitions that remove the stakes and let you focus on form. Gauge your progress with small milestones, and pause after each to celebrate the improvement. Soon, just like in sports, you’ll hear that familiar swoosh of confidence taking the shot.