Name Your Brain
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Hey friend, Real quick, I've got an idea for coaches, so if you are on, check this out. Anyway. I found this neat little trick you can use when your mind starts spiralling — when you’re anxious, under pressure, or frustrated. Most of us, when we feel overwhelmed, get swept away by our emotions. We start running on autopilot. Thoughts get loud. Rational thinking disappears. And we spiral. One way to stop that spiral is to disassociate — to create just enough space between you and what you’re feeling, so you can cut through the noise. But let’s be real: that’s not easy. When emotion hits, it floods everything. You lose perspective. And before you know it, you’re watching the mental film your brain wants to play — whether it’s about failure, fear, or not being good enough. But here’s the trick: name your brain. Let’s say you call it Marcus. When those anxious thoughts come up — “You’re no good.” “You haven’t done enough.” “You’re going to fail.” You say: “Alright Marcus, I love you, mate, but we’re not doing this today.” “Let’s try a different route. It sounds silly. But it works. It kind of reminds me of the characters in Pixar's Inside Out. All fighting for control inside your mind, but all different individuals you can talk to. This idea is what psychologist Ethan Kross talks about in his book Chatter — how using the third person to talk to yourself helps create cognitive distance. It gives you just enough room to step out of the emotion and back into perspective. Because here’s the thing: you wouldn’t speak to someone else the way your mind sometimes speaks to you. So why not treat your mind like someone else? Name your brain. Talk to it like a friend. Set some boundaries. It’s weird. But could work. What name are you giving your brain? Quote I likedIf you’re not speaking it, you’re storing it. Recommendation for youI went on Going Pro podcast. Great for tennis players, worth it for everyone else too. The Mindset of a Resilient Athlete PodcastI have a podcast that helps you build a stronger mind to take on life. Like me, it's a work in progress. Subscribe to the podcast here. (p.s. If you can subscribe on Youtube that would be amazing.) I'll see you later, Lewis Try my Mindset app for sport here |
The Game Plan
Take on the next week with lessons, perspectives, or insights for your mindset.
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