We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Petersen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.
Sarah, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
As someone who loves death-defying hobbies, I NEED confidence. Doing gymnastics without confidence that I can land? I’m bailing out of a skill midair. Climbing aerial silks 20 feet in the air with no confidence that I can hold on? SPLAT.
As a recovering people-pleaser, my go-to is to think, What do the people watching think about me?
Whether I’m doing a physical feat, giving a lecture, or leading a workout, I have to intentionally change my thought process.
Block that out. Flip it. Reverse it.
Think, Why am I doing this? instead.
And bam, it’s less about someone else’s reaction or a hypothetical disaster, and more about what is exciting, fulfilling, and amazing about why I’m here in the first place.
There’s no one completely without insecurities. Those “What if?”s creep in for all of us. It’s all about the wall you put up to make it easier to keep them out. For me, confidence is about channeling who I believe I was created to be––who I aspire to be––and letting that person take the reins. Eventually, I start to believe I am that person, and I was all along.
Instead of, They hate you. They think you’re unqualified. You’re cringe. You’re going to fall and everyone will point and laugh, I get to remember my passions.
I’m here to teach. I’m doing this because performing is FUN. I’m doing this for God’s glory because of what He put into my heart to love and pursue.
Priorities become easier. Passions become stronger. And confidence grows with practice.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I help gymnasts, dancers, & cheerleaders prevent injuries through app-based exercise. Splits & Lifts is a comprehensive (and fun!) online resource for parents who want their athletes to succeed in their sport for as long as they want to do it.
As a gymnast and coach for over 15 years, I was sick of burnt-out athletes covered in tape and dealing with chronic pain in their early teens. The resources are spotty. Almost no one understands the forces we put our bodies under, and for parents who didn’t grow up in the sport? Where do you send your child for help?
The Splits & Lifts app is full of injury prevention & skill-building programs that athletes can do at home. With videos, progress tracking, and messaging, athletes can take back control of their bodies.
For parents, there are even discussion groups full of industry leading professionals such as sport-specific physical therapists, mindset coaches, neuroperformance coaches, and nutritionists.
Soon, I’ll be launching skill-specific programs to make the path to ringing that skill bell a little quicker!
All of the resources, programs, exercises, and 24/7messaging with me are included with a Splits & Lifts membership.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Resilience. Hard facts: not everyone has your passion. When I started out with Splits & Lifts, I expected a lot more support from friends and family. This was a huge, groundbreaking task! Could they not see it?? It bummed me out for a long time. But that’s just not their role in that part of my life. It’s okay. The sooner you realize your comrades are not your clients, the quicker you can focus on finding the people you were created to help.
Stubbornness is my most prized quality. When the norm was to start gymnastics before you can talk, I started the sport at thirteen. When everyone said your body just “falls apart,” I sought out ways to prevent pain. If you’re getting pushback but see a problem that needs solved, solve it. They’ll thank you later.
Optimism is a strategy that makes most people roll their eyes. But I think it’s less of an inherent trait, and more of a skill. It’s a trained perspective that helped me recognize that it’s not always going to be like this, there are small steps I can make when the big steps are too high, and God promises to provide,
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is an athlete who is motivated to grow, have fun, and prevent injuries in gymnastics, cheer, or dance. It is this combination:
A parent who wants the best for their athlete, is tired of constant physical therapy, and wants to get to the root of their athlete’s pain + an athlete who wants to understand her body, get stronger, and have fun!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.splitsandlifts.com
- Instagram: @splitsandlifts
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/splitsandlifts
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