Before a heavy attempt, a big client session, or any moment your nerves spike, silently talk yourself through it using your own name or "you" instead of "I", for example, "Taj, you've prepped for this" rather than "I've prepped for this."
Across seven studies, this small shift in self-talk (researchers call it self-distancing) improved objectively-rated performance under social and performance stress, reduced visible distress, and helped people frame the moment as a challenge rather than a threat, with zero added time or effort. Use it in the ten seconds before you step up to a PR attempt or walk into a tense conversation.
Sources and references
- Kross et al. (2014), Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: 7 studies, N=585. PMID 24467424. DOI: 10.1037/a0035173
Give Clients the Words Before It Counts
A cue this small is easy to drop into a check-in message before a big lift or a nervous first session. Totality keeps that kind of support attached to the plan itself, not scattered across texts.
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