Your Personal Mantra

A super-effective form of positive self-talk is creating (and repeating) your personal mantra. 

A mantra is a short phrase or word that reminds you why you are doing what you are doing. Research has shown that it can lead to success in sport. 

A mantra doesn’t need to be complicated, it just needs to be personal. This should be a word or phrase that really “speaks” to you. Mine was to repeat the word “fight” when training or competing got tough. 

Need some inspiration? Below are mantras of various elite athletes: 

“On and up” - Chelsea Jaensch, Olympic long jumper

“Relentless” - Bill Rodgers, elite distance runner

“I am building a fire and every day I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match” - Mia Hamm, soccer legend 

“I got this” - Laurie Hernandez, Olympic gymnast. 

“Calm, calm, calm. Relax, relax, relax” - Desiree Linden, marathoner

“Go, go, go, go” - Morgan Mitchell, elite sprinter

“I deserve to win” - Marlen Esparza, Olympic boxer 

Want some homework? Think of a phrase that makes you feel invincible and apply it at your next training. You don't have to tell anyone what it is. It's YOURS. Like any mindset technique, it takes practice. 

Fight!