Building a Self-Talk Routine Like a Champion

Building a Self-Talk Routine Like a Champion

The best athletes don’t leave their mindset to chance. They train their self-talk the same way they train their bodies.

This morning, walking beneath a quiet overcast sky and listening to Brian Cain’s Mental Performance Daily, I was reminded of how important it is to build an intentional self-talk routine—not just for elite athletes, but for anyone who wants to perform at their best.

Brian mentioned how Steph Curry has a simple, consistent free-throw ritual: breathe, bounce, say the phrase. That phrase is what locks him in. It grounds him. It keeps him present.

This same principle applies across every performance domain. Whether it’s a high-pressure game, a speech, an interview, or a tournament block, champions don’t wait to feel ready—they anchor themselves with language they’ve rehearsed in advance.

One of the ways I’ve seen this come to life is through Bella’s bowling routines. At the Airbnb this week, she’s posted hand-written “signs of success” around the mirror and living space—short, powerful phrases like:

• “Breathe.”

• “This too shall pass.”

• “Everything always works out for me.”

These phrases aren’t random. They’re tools. They serve as pre-performance phrases, reset phrases, or post-mistake cues. When something doesn’t go your way, you need language that returns you to the present, reinforces your preparation, and restores your posture and mindset.

Because the truth is: your body follows your words.

Here’s what I’m going to remind Bella today:

You’re trained. You’re ready. You’ve put in the work.

Use your anchor. Say your phrase. Stay present.

Whether it’s “Be where your feet are,” “Next play,” or “This is what I trained for,” the phrase doesn’t matter as much as the fact that you’ve chosen one. That you’ve made it yours. That you’ve practiced it ahead of time.

That’s how we build a self-talk routine that performs under pressure.

And that’s how champions are made.