What are you building that no one else can see? Before you step onto the field, court, rink, or into the gym or stadium to compete, you train skills that never show up on a stat sheet. Skills, such as self-talk, increase confidence, sharpens focus, and calms nerves, improving performance when the stats count. Most athletes can agree that the mental side matters, but plenty still wonder—does this actually work? Well, in the 9th inning of the 2025 World Series, Mookie Betts, the shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers, told himself, "Be nasty,” before making the final outs. That's it. Two words against the biggest moment of his career. He trusted his training, managed his nerves, and made the play to secure a championship. The research backs up what Betts proved: what you say to yourself impacts what you can do! So, the question isn't whether it works. It's whether you've worked it.

What are you saying about yourself, to yourself? Think back to your last competition, practice, or workout. Do you remember what you told yourself when you performed exactly how you had hoped, made a mistake, or when the outside noise became deafening? Whether your answer is yes, no, or kind of, you are already practicing the first key part of self-talk: awareness. Like any skill, self-talk needs repetitions. That means knowing when you need it—before, during, or after—and knowing what you need in that moment. Motivation (“you’re made for this”) or instruction (“controlled aggression”). Something that sounds like you, not just a post you saw on social media. “Be nasty” worked because it was Mookie's. Your self-talk has to be your self-talk. That's how you'll know if it helps.

Who is listening when no one can hear you talking? The real training happens where no one watches. Here’s your self-talk workout. First, the warm-up: Situation —when do you need this? Before the first whistle, at lap ten, after a tough loss. Second, the setup: Style—what do you need? A spark to remind you of the work you’ve put in or a cue to help when the pressure is at its highest. Third, the lift: Statement—what do you actually say? Make the words yours, make them memorable, make them functional. And finally, the cooldown: Scan—was your self-talk productive or unproductive? Be honest with yourself. Did those words build you up or break you down? Was that voice a teammate or an opponent? If it was an opponent that broke you down, get back to the training and get your reps in. When training any skills, no one is going to do the heavy lifting for you. You have to put in the work! You can't change what you can't hear. So listen, and remember, the voice you practice alone is the one you can hear when you need it the most.