The Power of Positive Self-Talk: The Gymnast Who Talked Her Way to Victory

We are what we think.

When USA Olympian Suni Lee stepped onto the floor for her make-or-break individual all-around routine at the Paris 2024 Olympics, cameras caught a close-up of the athlete. She was mumbling calmly, her words incoherent. But a closer look revealed she was actually talking to herself.

"Okay."
"You got this."
"Last one."
"Last one for me."
"This one is forever."

Suni wasn't supposed to be at the Olympics. Last year, she was diagnosed with an incurable kidney issue that caused her ankles and other muscle joints to swell with fluid whenever she got injured. She also experienced symptoms like headaches, cramps, and other ailments that led her to drop out of the Auburn University gymnastics team.

But Suni was determined to make it to the US Olympic Team. She had a modified training regimen, a puppy to cheer her on, and she often spoke from the heart, communicating positively with her body.

According to a study published by the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, positive self-talk can help athletes reduce anxiety while competing, making the sport more fun and engaging. It’s like assuring your mind and body with gentle words that everything will be alright. 

“You got this,” Suni calmed herself by talking to herself while millions watched her perform on the floor and onto the Olympic medal podium. That one was forever. 

The Takeaway

In the age of social media, where likes and follows dictate self-worth, Suni Lee's quiet self-assurance offers a powerful insight: the most influential influencer in our lives is the voice in our head.

We obsess over choosing the perfect photo filter, but what about the mental filters we apply to our daily experiences?

We curate our social media feeds, choose our podcasts, and subscribe to newsletters that align with our interests. But how often do we consciously curate the thoughts we feed ourselves?

Imagine if we treated our inner dialogue with the same care we give to crafting the perfect tweet or our online profile. Whether psyching ourselves up for an interview, calming our nerves before a first date, or trying to navigate a chaotic day, our inner monologue shapes our experiences from positive to negative.

We are what we think.

What if, like Suni on the Olympic floor, we intentionally chose words that uplift and empower us in these everyday moments? Whispering "You got this" when doubt creeps in, or "You deserve this" when facing our own Olympic moment. Our self-talk is perhaps the most important conversation of our day.

In a world constantly trying to tell us who we are, the most revolutionary act is to consciously choose the words we tell ourselves.

What whispers of encouragement will you speak to yourself today?