Building Confidence Through Consistency

“It’s always better to not quite know how strong you are, than to know exactly how strong you are NOT!”

Consistency and confidence go hand in hand. As one grows, so does the other. But while confidence is tough to build in isolation, consistency is fully within our control.

That might sound obvious: show up, stop skipping sessions, stick to your program. Easy, right? But let’s dig deeper — because how you approach training can make or break your long-term progress.

Take "Bro Training" for example — smashing weights with your mates, pushing to failure, going all out every time. We’ve all done it, and it can be fun. But it lacks structure. And whether you’re a coach, an athlete, or both, progress comes from control — not chaos.

One habit that often lingers from that mindset is constantly training to failure. It feels good in the moment, but it doesn’t serve your confidence over time. When you hit failure, you teach yourself: "This is my limit." So when it’s time to go heavier or push further, that mental block is already in place.

Now imagine this instead: you finish a session thinking, “I probably had one more rep in me.” Then next time, you add weight. Again, you leave some in the tank. Over time, that builds a powerful narrative in your head — “I always have more.” That mindset becomes a weapon. You’re not just training your body; you’re training belief. You’re replacing doubt with drive.

That’s what the quote means — it’s better to wonder if you could’ve done more than to know for sure you can’t.

Think back to when you first started lifting — hitting PR after PR, feeling unstoppable. You believed in your own progression. That’s the feeling we want to recreate during a peak. So when competition day arrives, you’re not hoping your opener moves well; you’re attacking it, knowing you’ve earned the right to test your true max. Confidence becomes aggression — the good kind.

Now, this isn’t to say RPE 10 sets don’t belong in training. They absolutely do — when used strategically. They should build confidence, not create ceilings. Too many lifters confuse effort with progress and end up reinforcing self-imposed limits.

What about the days when you’re not at 100% — maybe you’ve been sick, or life’s just getting in the way? If your training feels harder than it should, here’s the mindset to adopt:

“We build confidence through consistency — by being consistently confident.”

That means adjusting as needed, getting the work done in a way that leaves you feeling capable — not defeated. And most importantly, communicate with your coach. The plan only works if the feedback is honest.

Finally, let’s address the elephant in the gym — ego.

It’s always there. Whether it’s your crush walking in, a rival across the room, or the temptation of social media likes — ego yells: “Do more! Prove yourself!” The challenge is deciding who you’re training for — your ego today, or your long-term success tomorrow.

You can still feed the ego — but let it grow from real progress, not short-lived hero lifts.