World Team Trials
Reflecting on the World Team Trials, my hardest battle was the paralyzing internal doubt that kept me from wrestling freely.
Photo by Justin HochI just felt like I needed to get something down in writing—some kind of reflection. Honestly, I'm still not healed from the World Team Trials. It isn't necessarily about the loss I took; it has everything to do with the psychological war I put myself through.
The best way I can explain it is this: knowing what you're capable of, and doing all the work to get yourself there, but then second-guessing it. Hesitating. Failing to execute the plan when you finally arrive in that moment. I take that pretty personally, because I know everyone I beat to get there worked just as hard as me. They were just as deserving.
I made a promise to myself that I will be better. I will do better.
It's incredibly hard to navigate doubts that are so loud they completely paralyze and blind you.
I'm not saying that executing the game plan would have guaranteed the win. It’s simply about being able to wrestle free and finish my positions.
So, to anyone out there who struggles with mental doubts—when the noise is so loud you feel like there's nothing you can do about it, and you feel completely trapped and suffocated—just know I've been right there with you. Keep believing in yourself, and lean on the people around you. They are the ones who will get you through it.
And WE still I rise.