10.10 Venus Williams: Act Like It

"Just believe in yourself. Even if you don’t, pretend that you do and, at some point, you will.” - Venus Williams

Who do you want to become?

Venus Williams a tennis champion, entrepreneur, and trailblazer who transformed women’s tennis with her power, poise, and advocacy for equality on and off the court.

She once said, “Just believe in yourself. Even if you don’t, pretend that you do and, at some point, you will.” Confidence often follows action — even if you don’t feel confident at first, acting as if you do can help you build real belief over time.

Think about the person you want to become and act like them. When you “act as if” — behaving like the confident, capable version of yourself even when you don’t fully feel that way — your brain begins to form new neural pathways that link those actions with positive outcomes. Each time you take action despite doubt, your brain records evidence that you can do hard things. Over time, that evidence rewires your mindset: what once felt like pretending starts to feel natural. 

When you act confident, your brain eventually catches up and starts to believe it too.

Question of the Day: Who do you want to become, and what do you have to do to become it?