I will never forget my first time at the Derby City Classic. I was surprised by how many people recognized me from YouTube. They’d come up, introduce themselves, and wish me luck. It was great, but with each new introduction, the pressure mounted. I felt like because I’m Sharivari, they were expecting me to play flawlessly.
I tried to suppress those feelings, but as the matches began, the pressure became almost overwhelming. It wasn’t about playing the game anymore; it became a constant fear of making mistakes. It felt like every miss, every small mistake, would somehow reflect on me and everything I’d taught. The more I tried to block it out, the harder it was to stay focused.
Little did I know, that fear would stay with me for years. Every tournament felt like I was fighting two battles: one against my opponent and one against my own fear of being judged. I kept wondering, was anyone else feeling this way? Did everyone watching expect me to be perfect?
One day, I was sitting in the audience watching a match where one player missed many shots I’d consider straightforward. But here’s the thing: I wasn’t judging him. I wasn’t sitting there thinking, “Look at this guy!” I realized in that moment that most people probably aren’t judging a person based on their game either. They’re just watching and enjoying the match. And the few who might be judging? Those aren’t the opinions worth caring about anyway.
That realization lifted a weight off my shoulders, but it took years of practice to fully shift my mindset. I had to work hard to let go of my fear of judgment, and I can honestly say it’s been a complete transformation of character. It’s not just changed how I feel about my game; it’s made me a stronger, and most importantly, a happier person. And obviously, it’s improved my competitive game as well.
Overcoming this kind of pressure isn’t about shutting it out; it’s about reshaping your perspective, not just in pool but in life. Now, when I feel those nerves building up, I remind myself: it’s just a game of pool. In the grand scheme, it’s simple, and I’m grateful to be right there, playing. There’s no room for worrying about what others think—that’s just wasted energy.
After years of competition, I’ve gathered my personal twelve key takeaways like this that have changed how I approach the mental side of pool. If you want to strengthen your mindset, come dive into these lessons with me.
Check out my course here: https://sharivari.shop/products/the-mental-edge-12-key-lessons
Cheers,
Shari