The words that matter
"The most powerful words in the universe are the ones you say to yourself."
Marie Forleo
I'm not good enough for this.
What if I freeze?
Everyone's going to see me mess up.
The familiar voice of our inner critic knows exactly when to pipe up, doesn't it? Just when the stakes feel highest, when we're given an opportunity to put our skills or training to the test…
Or when we're approaching a moment of intense vulnerability.
At Mojo, we often think of this voice as being like an unhelpful radio station – you didn't mean to tune into this particular frequency, but now it's hard to drown out the noise.
Why is this such a struggle?
Well, put simply, because we're natural storytellers, and have been since the dawn of time!
Language shapes how we understand and respond to the world around us. Both the negative and the positive words we consume (and create) become the scaffolding for our sense of self-acceptance, self-belief, self-compassion and more.
Language matters.
And not in the way of feel-good Instagram quotes, catchy t-shirt slogans or bumper stickers.
We're talking about something much deeper when it comes to building Performance Confidence.
We're talking about the specific words you choose to override that inner critic when everything's on the line.
When swimmer Erin Gemmell steps onto the blocks and whispers "116" to herself, something powerful happens in her brain.
That seemingly random number represents the number of affirmations she's written down in her journal. A long list of positive affirmations, now compressed into 3 digits to help her bypass any internal or external noise. As part of her training process for the Paris Olympics, she sat down and counted these statements.
"It added up to 116. So I've been using the number 116 as shorthand to remind me of that entire list that I made," she reflects. "It grabs all the feelings that go with those affirmations without the long list of words."
What Erin's describing here – this powerful kind of shorthand – is a brilliant example of a Performance Mantra. And it's one of the best ways we can learn to combat distractions when we're feeling stressed, nervous or doubtful.
In micro-moments of our performances, our inner critic often clambers onto centre stage to yell down the mic. What are you doing? You're not good enough for this! You're gonna lose! Quit while you're ahead.
It's loud, confronting and often unkind. An understandable, but misguided attempt to keep us safe, when all it does is cause us a great deal of tension and pressure.
The good news is, we can learn to override our inner critic in these moments with a more positive, affirmation-based mindset. A Performance Mantra might be as simple as I've got this or I've done the work, I'm ready – helping to remind us of our authenticity, whilst reconnecting us with a sense of courage and self-belief.
This isn't just feel-good fodder, the science behind affirmations and mantras speak volumes. Because every time we repeat these chosen words, we're carving out new neural pathways in our mind.
Think of it like creating a fresh trail through a dense forest. The old path – filled with familiar but unhelpful mental chatter – stays there, but now there's an alternative route. A far more scenic and empowering one!
Hey, Brain: Play 'Courage'
Picture Cathy Freeman, standing on the track before the Sydney Olympics. The weight of an entire nation's hopes pressing down on her shoulders. In that moment, four words became her anchor: Do what I know.
Scott Jurek, the ultra-running legend who conquered the Western States 100 seven times, carried his own version through mile 80 of seemingly impossible distances: This is what you came for. A mantra that captured the ultimate trifecta: agency, acceptance and appreciation.
WNBA all-star Kelsey Plum talks aloud to her inner critic through the lens of her inner fan: Hey, you're doing great. You belong here.
For swimmer Claire Weinstein, it's about keeping things beautifully simple when preparing for the Olympic stage: "I just tell myself… I'm ready for this. It's just a pool."
And of course, Australian surfing superstar Molly Picklum carries "honour my beliefs" into every wave she rides, knowing that she's already winning by getting out there, staying curious, and exploring her potential.
The common thread here?
These aren't generic motivational slogans. They're deeply personal mantras that allow each athlete to go tall, not small, in any performance - helping unlock their A-Game in the process.
There are no hard and fast rules with creating a Performance Mantra. What's important is that it has meaning for you.
Sometimes, we might have to explore a few options to find what works in our day-to-day life.
Don't be afraid to steal like an artist if you hear a phrase, word or saying that really speaks to you. If something makes you feel inspired, moved or even comforted, try it on for size! See how it feels to recall - and even better, recite - these words before or during a performance.
Interestingly, many athletes we've worked with have actually prepared a variety of mantras. So there's no need to limit yourself to one.
We often tell ourselves different stories at different times, so it's powerful to find the right mantra for the right moment.
Specificity is the name of the (A) game.
When it matters most
In those pivotal moments when doubt creeps in, we have a choice: listen to the old story, or override our inner critic with something that reminds us of who we are when we're at our best.
That's what Performance Mantras really are – a powerful reminder, written from the perspective of our inner fan. Who knows that it's our decisions, not the conditions, that matter most.
Remember: the conversation you have with yourself changes everything.
Choose wisely, choose kindly.
Your A-Game is literally depending on it 😉
Ready to begin?
Behind every great performance is a dedication to training and mindset. Explore the top questions and activities in our most-popular program to find your unique Performance Mantras, Physical Anchors and so much more 👇 💪
Join the Mojo community
