This article is sponsored by Rexona.
Image via @farahann92/Instagram, edited by HITZ
Just as you’re about to do something really important—and possibly life-changing—this creeps into your head:
“What if I mess up?”
“I’m not capable enough.”
Self-doubt really knows how to pick the worst timing: when you’re sitting for an exam, starting a new job or when you’re about to compete in a global tournament. It’s a pretty common occurrence too—we’ve all been there…
… including Malaysian darling and Olympian Farah Ann.
In an exclusive interview with HITZ, Farah Ann shared how self-doubt almost got the best of her. Keyword: almost.
It started with a knee injury when she was 11
Image via @farahann92/Instagram
Farah Ann began her gymnastic journey at a tender age of 3. When she was 11, she competed at her first women’s competition in the country. While performing on the vault, she made a wrong landing, resulting in a knee fracture and torn calf muscle. Ouch!
The next few months saw her relying on crutches and going through countless hours of physiotherapy. It took her six months to fully recover. Despite the recovery, she started questioning her capabilities: “Can I be back in action?” and “What if can’t do it?”.
Turn that self-doubt into a fuel to drive you
With the emergence of self-doubt, Farah Ann also couldn’t help but compare herself to other athletes. “I often doubted my ability to [compete on the same level as the rest] and win medals.” However, there’s a silver lining: “These times of self-doubt also pushed me to work hard and do my best.”
Image via @farahann92/Instagram
“I know that I can control this, and it doesn't help to worry about what will happen in the future [and things I have no control over],” the Subang Jaya-born gymnast said.
“Do everything one step at a time.”
Ultimately, building self-confidence is a long process. To stay on the right track, Farah Ann ensures she does everything one step at a time. This same principle was practised during her Tokyo Olympics participation:
“It can be daunting when you have very lofty goals, but when you break it down to smaller goals, it seems that you are very much capable of achieving that.
Over time, you realise that the more you experience, whether you win or lose, the more confident you become. As you grow up, you gain more confidence in yourself and what you can do.”
Her family is her support circle
Image via @farahann92/Instagram
It helps to have unwavering support from loved ones too. Farah Ann credited her family, coaches and BFFs for being by her side from the very beginning. They’ve always been there with helpful advice, pushing her to achieve all the goals she has set for herself.
“Don’t let self-doubt take charge of your life!”
Of course, as we all know, Farah Ann’s efforts have since paid off. “[Self-doubt] will not control my life! I am in charge of myself and my goals!” she said.
Image via @farahann92/Instagram
She’s represented Malaysia in multiple international tournaments, with her proudest moment being competing at the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. And after 25 years in the gymnastic scene, Farah Ann announced her retirement in March this year.
Like Farah Ann, Rexona believes that you can go beyond your limits and squash that self-doubt too!
Inspired by her story, Rexona is partnering with the former national gymnast to encourage other Malaysians to take on the #RexonaMoveBrightNow challenge.
What does it mean to “move bright” though? Well, the term carries a different meaning for each of us. Whether you’re trying to overcome a fear, take on a new job, or change the way you see yourself, as long as you make that brave first move, you’re already making a bright move!
Join #RexonaMoveBrightNow & win your share of prizes worth RM10,000!
Image via Rexona
#RexonaMoveBrightNow and get rewarded for it! To participate, upload a social media photo or video of yourself trying something new that challenges your limit. This can be overcoming your fear of heights, public speaking for the first time, or even participating in extreme sports.
Make sure to tag Rexona Malaysia’s Facebook, Instagram or TikTok pages, and include the #RexonaMoveBrightNow hashtag. Your profile should be set to public too.
The contest runs until 15 October. For more info, visit the Rexona website.
And if you’re looking for a little self-confidence boost…
... the world’s number one deodorant brand, Rexona—with a Vitamin E-Revive Booster and 0% alcohol—keeps you fresh and bright, giving you that added confidence to make your first move to success.
Image via Rexona
It’s also dermatologically tested to help:
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