5 Habits of Happy Cheerleaders

Every cheerleader knows cheerleading is a lifestyle. There’s so much more to it than the time spent on the sidelines and at competitions. It can be easy to get caught up in stress, nerves, and drama, but that takes away so much from the incredible experience of cheerleading. So shake off the negativity and check out these five habits of happy cheerleaders: They look on the bright side. Happy cheerleaders see obstacles as a challenge, not a wall they can’t get through. They assume the best. When your coach corrects you or critiques a skill, it can be easy to be offended and get defensive. Your feelings might be hurt, and you tell yourself your coach is picking on you or that she/he doesn’t know what she/he is talking about. Happy cheerleaders don’t fall into this trap. They recognize that they are there to learn and that their coach is the one who is going to help them do that. They are grateful for their coach’s instruction and don’t take it personally. They give their coach the benefit of the doubt and assume that she/he has their best interest at heart. They shift their perspective. Happy cheerleaders focus on what they can do for their team, not what their team can do for them. They laugh. This doesn’t mean they goof off during practice and don’t take cheerleading seriously. It just means they have fun. They genuinely enjoy their teammates and spend time hanging out with them. And, perhaps most importantly, they can laugh off the small stuff that doesn’t matter. Laughing keeps your spirits up and keeps negativity from weighing you down. They are grateful. Gratitude is the not-so-secret ingredient to happiness. Happy cheerleaders recognize how fortunate they are to have the ability and opportunity to do what they love. They also appreciate and acknowledge their support system. They thank their parents, siblings, aunts and uncles‚ whoever is part of their own cheering section. They also recognize that their success is a group effort and show their appreciation to their coaches and teammates. This doesn’t mean they print out a “World’s Best Coach ” certificate each week‚ it just means they treat their coaches and teammates with respect and work hard to be the best team member they can be. What habits do you practice or have you noticed in happy cheerleaders?