The seminal paper on achieving excellence without being "above average" - https://fermatslibrary.com/s/the-mundanity-of-excellence-an-ethnographic-report-on-str

The seminal paper on achieving excellence without being "above average" - https://fermatslibrary.com/s/the-mundanity-of-excellence-an-ethnographic-report-on-stratification-and-olympic-swimmers https://fermatslibrary.com/s/the-mundanity-of-excellence-an-... Its key finding is that, because excellence and motivation are mundane, they key challenge is "psychologically maintaining mundanity even at the height of complex challenges" that is, still tying your shoes well before your Olympics heat, and smiling confidently and talking coolly during the Cuban missile crisis. So to me less about your self image and more about assuming the work itself requires no special talents to achieve; just good practices, practiced well.