How To Turn Self-Doubt Into Your Superpower - The Mindset of Champions
On this episode of The School of Greatness, Becky Lynch shares her journey from a self-doubting teenager to a confident wrestling champion. She opens up about her early struggles with low self-esteem, revealing how she found purpose and a sense of belonging through professional wrestling.
Lynch recounts the formative experiences that shaped her, from the unwavering support of mentors who recognized her potential, to the transformative moments that allowed her to embrace her authentic self. She reflects on pivotal career events that taught her to take creative risks, ultimately embodying the courageous mindset of a champion.
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Becky Lynch's Journey of Self-Discovery
Early Struggles with Confidence
Becky Lynch, already battling low self-confidence and poor self-image as a teenager, engaged in unhealthy behaviors like drinking and smoking in an attempt to fit in, as she admits. Despite these challenges, she harbored ambitions to contribute positively to society.
A Transformative Passion for Wrestling
At 15, Lynch discovered professional wrestling and immediately felt drawn to it, finding a community where she belonged. Wrestling provided an outlet for self-expression and allowed her to build confidence through perseverance and hard work, teaching her to value herself for her craft.
Trials in the WWE Developmental System
In the intense, high-pressure WWE developmental system, a constant fear of being cut loomed, as Lynch recalls. However, supportive mentors like Dusty Rhodes and William Regal saw her potential, allowing her to experiment and grow. Initially struggling to find her unique voice, Lynch evolved, developing self-belief and the courage to take creative risks.
Defining Career Moments
- A cage match with Trish Stratus stood out, with Lynch experiencing complete flow and authenticity in her performance.
- At WrestleMania 38 against Bianca Belair, Lynch relished contributing to Belair's redemption arc as the antagonist.
- The 2018 Last Woman Standing match with Charlotte Flair marked a pivotal moment where Lynch fully embraced her confidence as a performer and athlete, as she recounts.
1-Page Summary
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Actionables
- You can channel your passion into a confidence-building hobby by identifying an activity that resonates with your interests and committing to it regularly. For example, if you enjoy storytelling, consider joining a local improv group or writing short stories. The key is to choose something that excites you and allows for personal growth, much like wrestling did for Lynch. As you improve and invest time in this hobby, you'll likely notice a boost in your self-confidence.
- Start a "fear-facing" journal where you document one small fear you confront each day or week. This could be as simple as speaking up in a meeting, trying a new food, or asking for help. The act of writing it down makes the challenge real and provides a record of your progress. Over time, you'll build a resilience similar to what Lynch developed in the face of potentially being cut from the WWE developmental system.
- Create a personal brand that reflects your unique voice by experimenting with different styles of self-expression until you find what feels authentic. This could involve starting a blog, vlog, or even a social media page dedicated to a topic you're passionate about. The goal is not to gain followers but to practice and refine your voice. As you become more comfortable sharing your thoughts and ideas, you'll develop the self-belief and willingness to take creative risks, just like Lynch did in her career.
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Becky Lynch's personal journey and struggle with self-confidence
Becky Lynch candidly discusses the challenges of her youth, her unsettling relationship with food, and her eventual triumph in the wrestling ring, overcoming both personal and professional obstacles.
Becky's low self-confidence and attempts to fit in as a teenager
From an early age, Becky Lynch admits she struggled with self-confidence, leading her to engage in unhealthy behaviors in a quest to fit in.
Becky felt self-conscious and tried to engage in risky behaviors like drinking and smoking to appear cool and fit in
As a teenager, Lynch tried to fit in with the crowd, resorting to drinking and smoking to take the edge off her self-consciousness and cope with her life at home. Despite these behaviors, she harbored ambitions and a desire to contribute positively to society.
Becky's transformative discovery of and passion for professional wrestling
At 15, Becky Lynch's life took a turn when she discovered professional wrestling, sparking a passion that would come to define her career.
At 15, Becky discovered a local wrestling school and immediately felt drawn to it, seeing it as an opportunity to apply herself and build confidence
Upon learning her brother was looking into a wrestling school in the UK, her interest was piqued. Lynch found out about a wrestling school just an hour away by train and talked her way in by lying about her age, eager to join despite not being old enough. Wrestling provided a unique community where she felt she belonged, embodying a sense of difference she could be confident in.
Becky's early training and struggles in the wrestling school taught her valuable lessons about perseverance and the power of hard work
Wrestling quickly became the first thing Becky truly wanted to apply herself too. Each training session allowed her to see progress, further building her confidence. Initially, she di ...
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Becky Lynch's personal journey and struggle with self-confidence
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Actionables
- You can explore new hobbies to find a sense of belonging by signing up for introductory classes in various activities that pique your interest. For example, if you've always been curious about martial arts, painting, or coding, look for local workshops or online courses that offer a trial period. This allows you to immerse yourself in different communities and potentially discover a passion that resonates with you, much like wrestling did for someone else.
- Create a perseverance journal to document your journey through challenging tasks, noting down the obstacles you face and how you overcome them. Start with a daily goal that requires consistent effort, such as learning a new language for 15 minutes a day or practicing a musical instrument. Each entry should reflect on the day's work, what was difficult, and how you pushed through, reinforcing the value of hard work and perseverance in personal growth.
- Use positive affirmations to combat nega ...
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Becky's experiences in the WWE developmental system
Becky Lynch shares her personal journey within the WWE developmental system, detailing the high-pressure environment and her evolution as a performer, reflecting the trials and emotional struggles she endured to become a top WWE entertainer.
The intensity and high-pressure environment of the WWE developmental system
Lynch recalls the constant fear of being cut from the WWE developmental program, referring to it ominously as "Black Friday." The risk of being called into the office and told it was the end of the road for one’s wrestling dream loomed over everyone. As a result, the experience was filled with anxiety, and Lynch admits that this fear of potential termination made the environment not enjoyable.
The opportunity to experiment and fail, with supportive mentors like Dusty Rhodes and William Regal
Despite the intense environment, the WWE developmental system provided the opportunity to experiment and attempt different characters, emphasizing the creative process over immediate success. Lynch recalls her gratitude towards mentors like Dusty Rhodes, who took pride in working with the "broken toys," and William Regal, both of whom supported Lynch, believing in her unique spark even when she felt lost. They saw something in her that merited saving her job multiple times, which implies an environment that allowed for growth despite the pressure.
Becky's evolution as a performer in the developmental system
Lynch went through a significant evolution in the developmental system, overcoming her initial challenges in establishing her character.
Overcoming her initial struggles to find her unique voice and character
Initially, Lynch struggled with her portrayal, mentioning a forgettable debut where she had to perform an Irish jig that felt forced and disingenuous, reflecting her difficulties in creating a captivating pers ...
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Becky's experiences in the WWE developmental system
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Counterarguments
- While the fear of "Black Friday" is highlighted, it could be argued that such high-pressure situations are common in competitive fields and serve to motivate individuals to perform at their best.
- The anxiety-inducing environment of the WWE developmental system might be seen as a necessary aspect of filtering talent and preparing them for the high-stakes world of professional wrestling entertainment.
- The support from mentors like Dusty Rhodes and William Regal, while invaluable, might overshadow the individual effort and resilience required from Lynch herself to succeed.
- The opportunity to experiment with different characters in the developmental system, although beneficial, might not be unique to WWE and could be a standard practice in many performance arts training programs.
- Lynch's initial struggles to find her unique voice and character could be interpreted as a typical part of any performer's journey, not necessarily a flaw in the WWE developmental system.
- The development of self-belief and courage to take creative risks is an important narrative, but it could also b ...
Actionables
- You can create a "Fearless Feedback" journal where you document instances where you faced fear or anxiety in your professional life, noting how you responded and what you learned. This can help you track your growth over time and identify patterns in your behavior that you can work on improving.
- Start a "Creative Character" exercise by setting aside time each week to brainstorm and write down different personas or roles you could adopt in various aspects of your life, such as at work or in social settings. This practice encourages you to explore new facets of your personality and can lead to discovering a voice or character that feels authentic and empowering.
- Develop a "Resilience Ritual" by choosing a regular activity that ch ...
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Key moments and matches that defined Becky's wrestling career
Becky Lynch's wrestling career is marked by momentous matches that not only highlighted her skill in the ring but also her ability to captivate the imagination of fans worldwide. These matches are integral in understanding her rise as a superstar in professional wrestling.
The match with Trish Stratus that felt completely "in the flow"
In September, a cage match with Trish Stratus stood out as a pivotal moment for Becky Lynch. She entered a state of complete presence and authenticity, where everything happened as it was meant to, exemplifying a flawless execution of in-ring storytelling.
The WrestleMania 38 match with Bianca Belair
At WrestleMania 38, Becky Lynch relished the role of the antagonist in her bout with Bianca Belair. It was not only one of her favorite matches but also a storyline she enjoyed building up to. For Lynch, part of the joy came from contributing to Bianca's redemption arc. Lynch had previously defeated Bianca for the title by underhanded means, and this match was Bianca's opportunity to emerge victorious and reclaim the title, adding layers ...
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Key moments and matches that defined Becky's wrestling career
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While the match with Trish Stratus is highlighted for its "flawless execution," some may argue that no match is without its flaws or areas that could be improved upon, and what is considered flawless is subjective and varies among fans and critics.
- Regarding the WrestleMania 38 match, one could argue that while the storyline contributed to Bianca Belair's redemption arc, it may have also overshadowed other potential storylines or wrestlers who could have benefited from the spotlight at such a significant event.
- The assertion that ...
Actionables
- You can practice storytelling in everyday conversations by deliberately structuring your anecdotes with a clear beginning, conflict, and resolution to engage your friends and family more effectively.
- Start by thinking of a recent event in your life as a story. Identify the key 'characters' and the 'setting'. Then, outline the 'conflict' or challenge you faced and how you overcame it. Share this story with someone, paying attention to their reactions to refine your storytelling skills.
- Enhance your ability to play different roles in group settings by volunteering for a position that's outside your comfort zone, such as being the 'devil's advocate' in a discussion group.
- Join a local club or online forum that discusses topics you're passionate about. In your next meeting, take on a role that opposes your usual stance, arguing from a different perspective. This will help you understand and perform roles that are not naturally aligned with your personality, similar to how an antagonist role is played.
- Build self-confidence by setting ...
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