This person is nervous about their upcoming PE class.

Hello,

Welcome back! We are happy to have you. I'm sorry to hear about your situation, though. I know I hardly thought of P.E. class as fun even with friends there with me, so I completely understand your apprehension. Confidence is something we all struggle with in some form or fashion, so you are not at all alone in that, and body image issues and stresses are very common. These are topics we can certainly give our advice on.

Let's start off with your lack of, or struggle, with confidence. In a P.E. scenario especially, it is important to remember that most people don't care what you're doing. You miss a shot on the basketball court? And? It is highly unlikely that you'll be the only one to miss a shot. You get tired easily? We all have different levels of stamina. There will most likely be other people in your class who get tired easily too. You're not going to have everyone judging you for things like that. This isn't varsity sports. It's P.E. The ones who might in this case aren't people you need to worry about either. They are few and far between, and ultimately, their passion for P.E. basketball is not your problem. You do not have to cater to other peoples' feelings. You're there because you have to be, just like the rest of them, and if they want to throw a fit because you're not giving it your all 100% of the time then that's their deal. Confidence is a mindset. That mindset can be influenced by our environment, but it can also be managed by our own force of will. Remembering your worth is an important part of this. You are not less than other people in your class because they can run faster than you, or because they can play sports better than you. Your performance in P.E. does not add to or subtract from your worth as a person. It's just another environment you're placed in for a little bit during the week. It takes active practice, but ultimately, confidence is just a way of thinking. If you can work to remember who you are in a positive and strong light then over time you can rewire your brain to think confidently rather than fearfully. A good way to practice is to think of yourself positively during stressful situations like this. When you're stressed during P.E., think through this response and what you believe yourself to be worth. It can also be beneficial to have a mantra you can walk yourself through, i.e. "I am strong, I am in control of my actions and thoughts, I am capable of doing hard things," etc. Come up with phrases that embody what you want to work towards, and formulate them into a mantra you can recite to yourself in times of stress or moments of uncertainty.

I hope this helps, love. You're going to do great, and I wish you all the best! Feel free to message us for more advice!

Stay strong,

The Advice Column Team