International Tutors' Magazine April 2019 | Page 14

INTERNATIONAL TUTORS’ MAGAZINE all photos by Ruby Lee as easily affected by the environment and by others. This is something that can be gradually developed and accumulated. Furthermore, self-confidence reflects our strengths, worth and values. Q: How important is it to keep a positive attitude when attempting something difficult or challenging? Ken: Very important. I think that people who are more positive tend to find more opportunities. Yet I am always keeping in mind that I shouldn’t be too over-confident, since it could affect my relationships with friends or when meeting new people. Most everyone in this world likes humble people. Self-confidence is also one of the essential characteristics for being an excellent athlete. I’m not suggesting that athletes with low self-confidence Q: As an athlete, what do you think couldn’t win any medals. Nevertheless, as “self-confidence” means? a challenger in the matches, the majority Ken: I believe that self-confidence involves of athletes do have a lot of self-confidence. self-awareness, which means the degree to Athletes must believe that they have the which we understand or recognise ourselves. ability to win against their opponents. We get to know clearly about our strengths and weaknesses, and we perform better in Ruby: Keeping a positive attitude gives the fields of our strengths. When performing good first impressions to others and gives well, we usually feel excellent and self- others the chance to discover the areas confident. Self-confidence also relies on in which we have great self-confidence. personal attitude and character. Active and Low self-confidence could induce a lot positive people may have much more self- of psychological effects, which can have confidence than passive or negative people. external consequences such as performing poorly during matches. Less confident Ruby: I believe that self-confidence athletes who play team sports could even involves strongly believing and trusting affect the whole team, like not believing in in ourselves. Self-confident people aren’t their teammates, and thus affect the morale 14