It was one of those nights where there was a lot of doubt in the air.

End of the first week of football practice. Pads on for the first time. And a handful of young men were struggling. Conditioning was breaking them down, and instead of pushing through, they were reaching for excuses.

I handled it like I typically do. Ignoring the excuses. Building them up when the time was right. Never lowering the standard.

After practice, it was too hard to pass up Jeni's ice cream (no, they aren’t sponsoring this post, but I wish they were), when a quote on a big yellow sign hit me between the eyes. It was from Ted Lasso, featured in Jeni's own marketing:

"I have a really tricky time hearing folks that don't believe in themselves."

That's exactly what I'd been standing in the middle of for the last two hours. A dozen 13- and 14-year-olds, gassed and doubting themselves, looking for someone to confirm that doubt was true.

Here's the thing about doubt. It's loud in your mind, and it can be convincing. But just because it can be experienced by anyone doesn't mean it's helpful.

As a leader, coach, or parent, you've got two paths when you're standing in that moment.

I didn't get it right with every kid that night. But I know which path I was trying to walk. I don't know what doubt is hanging over your head this week. But remember that line from Ted Lasso. Because if you don't believe in yourself, everything gets harder.

P.S. The Optimistic Outlook is a Podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts would mean a lot.