Success in cheerleading depends on more than executing all the right moves; it also relies on thinking in the right way.

I have been examining some common cognitive distortions cheerleaders (and all people) use which impede progress and undermine cheerleading performance.  Today I will talk about Fortune Telling.

In this form of jumping to conclusions, you “predict” what is going to happen in the future before it happens. “Oh, I know I’m not going to get on the squad.” “We’ll never make it to Nationals.”

Fortune telling can be an especially dangerous cognitive distortion because it can become a self fulfilling prophecy.  If you expect to do poorly, what do you think will happen?

Another way of explaining this is to say that fortune telling is a process of setting negative goals for yourself and living down to them!

Why set up negative goals for yourself?  Instead try saying, “I’m going to work hard in preparing for tryouts so I can feel confident and perform well.”  Or – “We’re going to do our best to make progress this year with the hope that we’ll be able to go to Nationals.”

See the difference?  Think this would make a difference in how you perform?  You betcha!