Chris Mance II - Mental Skills Coach

As I was scrolling through my Instagram feed last week, a post targeting high school and college wrestlers caught my attention. It boldly proclaimed, “Belief comes from suffering.” The intent behind the post was clear – to inspire athletes to push their limits and embrace the challenges that come with their chosen sport. However, my analytical side immediately kicked in, urging me to dig deeper into this statement. Does belief truly come from suffering, or is there more to the story?

The Case Against Belief Coming from Suffering

The notion that belief is a direct byproduct of suffering is one that warrants closer examination. While suffering can indeed be a source for belief, it’s not the sole catalyst. Belief, in its essence, is a complex interplay of various psychological, emotional, and experiential factors.

Firstly, suffering alone does not guarantee belief. Consider a high school wrestler subjected to intense physical and mental strain during grueling pre-season training sessions. While these experiences undoubtedly test the athlete’s limits, they do not guarantee the emergence of belief. Especially if the athlete does not see any real proof that suffering made them better. For example, they don’t place in state or lose to a rival after the training. Belief is not automatic; it requires conscious cultivation, nurturing, and proof.

Secondly, the relationship between suffering and belief is not linear. Some athletes may endure tremendous suffering and still struggle with self-doubt. While others may face less adversity and possess unshakable self-belief. This discrepancy highlights that belief is not solely contingent on the magnitude of suffering but rather on how athletes mentally process the suffering.

Lastly, the idea that belief comes solely from suffering may inadvertently promote a harmful mindset that glorifies suffering as a means to an end. Encouraging athletes to believe that suffering alone is the key to success can lead to an unhealthy approach. It may push them to seek suffering for its own sake, disregarding the importance of balance and skill development.

With this in mind, next I will explore the flip side of this debate. While it’s clear that suffering alone isn’t the complete answer, it’s equally important to recognize when and how it can be a pivotal factor in an athlete’s journey towards self-belief.

The Case for Belief Coming from Suffering

There is a compelling argument for the role of suffering in shaping an athlete’s belief. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that argument only works under four conditions.

1. Resilience Building: Suffering as a foundation for resilience can develop self-belief. When athletes confront and overcome adversity, they develop a sense of mental toughness that can be a foundation for belief. For instance, a high school wrestler who endures a series of losses but continues to persevere through rigorous training and emerges as a champion at season’s end. Their belief isn’t born solely from suffering but from their ability to be resilient in the face of it.
2. Learning Through Struggle: Moments of struggle can be profound learning experiences and develop belief. Athletes who navigate suffering learn about their strengths, weaknesses, and the strategies required to overcome pain. Such learning fosters a sense of self-awareness, which can be a precursor to belief. For example, a college athlete who faces a season-ending injury may initially suffer both physically and emotionally. However, the process of rehabilitation and the determination to return to peak performance will cultivate belief in their abilities.
3. Inspirational Role Models: Many athletes draw inspiration from the stories of others who have endured suffering and emerged stronger. Witnessing role models overcome adversity can instill the belief that they, too, can triumph. For instance, seeing a teammate suffer through their training, then achieving the pinnacle of success can be a powerful motivator.
4. Character-Building Through Sacrifice: This is the most pertinent of all the reasons why belief comes from suffering. Suffering often plays a pivotal role in shaping an athlete’s character. In turn, this profoundly influences their belief system. Athletes who willingly embrace suffering cultivate essential qualities such as discipline, dedication, and perseverance. These character traits are closely intertwined with self-belief, as athletes who embody them are more likely to trust in their ability to overcome obstacles. For instance, consider a high school wrestler who willingly sacrifices precious hours with family and friends to train rigorously. They wake up at 5 a.m. to endure grueling workouts and practice sessions, knowing that this self-imposed suffering is a rite of passage. The intensity of their training often surpasses the actual challenges they face in competition. This experience serves as a constant reminder that they’ve pushed their limits, and they have already confronted hardships that may dwarf what they’ll encounter on the mat. This perspective fuels their belief, as they recognize that they’ve prepared themselves for success through their enduring sacrifice and dedication to their craft.

Suffering the Right Way: 7 Tips for Athletes

To conclude, I want to leave you with seven practical tips for harnessing the potential of suffering to strengthen belief. These tips will guide athletes on a path of growth and self-discovery, ensuring that the journey through suffering is not in vain but instead becomes a transformative experience.

1. Embrace the Process: Understand that suffering is an integral part of the journey to success. Embrace the grind and view it as an investment in your future. This mindset shift can make each challenge a steppingstone toward your goals, reinforcing your belief that you’re on the right path.
2. Set Purposeful Goals: Define clear, meaningful process and performance goals that resonate with your values and aspirations. These objectives will serve as motivation during tough times, reminding you why you endure suffering and reinforcing your belief that your sacrifices are worthwhile.
3. Seek Guidance: Don’t go through your suffering journey alone. Seek guidance from mentors, coaches, or peers who have faced similar challenges. Their experiences and wisdom can provide valuable insights and emotional support, bolstering your belief that you’re not alone in your struggles.
4. Maintain Perspective: Keep the bigger picture in mind. When faced with suffering, remind yourself that what you’re enduring on the field or in training is nothing compared to the challenges faced by individuals in war-torn countries or other severe situations. This broader perspective can help you endure and even be grateful in a less than ideal situation.
5. Cultivate Resilience: Develop resilience by learning from setbacks and using them as opportunities to grow. Resilient athletes understand that suffering is an integral part of improvement and are better equipped to maintain self-belief when faced with adversity.
6. Balance with Mental Skills Training: Alongside your physical training, invest in mental skills development. Incorporate techniques such as visualization, controlled breathing, and positive self-talk into your routine. These skills can help you manage stress, stay focused, and reinforce your self-belief during challenging times. In addition, mental training includes self-care. Ensure you’re getting adequate rest, nutrition, and recovery time to prevent burnout. A well-rounded approach to suffering promotes sustained belief in your capabilities.
7. Celebrate Small Wins: Don’t wait for major victories to validate your belief in yourself. Celebrate small achievements along the way. These milestones act as constant reminders of your progress, reinforcing your belief that you’re moving closer to your goals.

To summarize, suffering can indeed be a catalyst for self-belief, but it must be channeled and approached in the right way. By embracing suffering as a valuable tool for growth, setting purposeful goals, seeking support, maintaining perspective, cultivating resilience, balancing it with mental skills training, and celebrating small wins, athletes can turn their suffering into a powerful source of belief in their abilities. With the right mindset and approach, suffering becomes a steppingstone to athletic success and personal development.