Sports psychologists call it “self-cueing”—but it’s really just remembering to talk to yourself like someone you trust.
Athletes, pilots, even surgeons use it under pressure: short, spoken cues that engage parts of the brain that silent thought can’t reach. When you quietly say, “Slow down,” “First things first,” or “Just listen,” you’re not being weird—you’re steadying your own system.
It’s a way of coming back to yourself before you walk into something that matters.
Try this: Before a conversation, a meeting, or a moment that feels charged—pause.
- Pick a phrase that feels grounding.
- Keep it short and kind.
- Say it out loud, softly enough that only you hear.
Notice what shifts. Your breath evens. The noise quiets. The version of you that can hold space shows up.
You’re not performing; you’re practicing presence. It’s not weakness; it’s wisdom.
