🚫 STEREOTYPES & SUPERSTITIONS

Defy Expectations

● OBJECTIVE: to overcome mental blocks of stereotyping & superstition

PART 1: STEREOTYPES

Many athletes set arbitrary limits on themselves. Athletes, like anyone else, are guilty of stereotyping. Stereotyping often leads to mental blocks which affect performance.

It is important you are brutally honest with yourself or you may continue to give these opponents an unearned competitive edge. A great way to overcome stereotypes is by identifying counter examples.

⚠️Common Stereotypes in Wrestling

Some of these are rooted in past experience, others are learned from hearing others:

•Their experience level

•Build/body type

•Race

•Height or weight

•Age

•Their shoes or gear

•Socioeconomic background

•School/club attended

📝Exercise 1: Identify & Counter Your Stereotypes

You will be honest with yourself and determine if there are any stereotypes that you hold that could lead to mental blocks. Then list counter examples of the stereotype that disproves them.

Stereotypes	Counter Examples
[ Stereotype 1 ]	[ Counter examples that disprove it ]
[ Stereotype 2 ]	[ Counter examples that disprove it ]
[ Stereotype 3 ]	[ Counter examples that disprove it ]

PART 2: SUPERSTITIONS

Superstition is another way athletes develop mental blocks. Superstition could include equipment, irrational routine, compulsive actions or countless other things.

There is a big difference between having a consistent warm-up/pre-match routine and believing everything has to be exactly a certain way every time before/during a match.

The difference between the two lies in control: Do you control it or does it control you?

Even though the superstition may "feel right," you leave yourself open to feeling lost if you do not have it. Your superstitions could be interrupted by the world at any time, so you want to prove to yourself now that they do not control you.

🔓Exercise 2: Take Control of Your Superstitions

Superstitions	Ways You Will Take Control
[ Superstition 1 ]	[ How you'll prove it doesn't control you ]
[ Superstition 2 ]	[ How you'll prove it doesn't control you ]
[ Superstition 3 ]	[ How you'll prove it doesn't control you ]

💡

BREAK FREE FROM MENTAL LIMITS!

Stereotypes and superstitions are self-imposed mental barriers that give your opponents power they haven't earned. When you identify and challenge these beliefs, you take back control. Remember: no opponent is unbeatable because of their school, gear, or reputation. And you don't need everything "just right" to perform your best. Your skills and mental toughness are what matter—not arbitrary beliefs!

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