The Stories We Tell Ourselves
February 25, 2026 · 2 min read
The other day I was practicing with my teammates, and I had a pretty rusty session. I kept getting mad at myself because I wasn't performing the way I wanted to. That frustration must have been visible, because one of my coaches pulled me aside and asked what was wrong. I told him I was getting frustrated.
Tim Mayotte, a former world #7 who's been working with us lately, sat me down and gave me incredible advice. He said that in the 5 to 10 seconds after a point, it's extremely important what kind of story we tell ourselves — because that's where the real power lies.
In the 5 to 10 seconds after a point, it's extremely important what kind of story we tell ourselves — because that's where the real power lies.
If you lose a point and let your thoughts run wild, your mind will create a story about you that doesn't reflect reality: I suck. I can't make this shot. This guy is too good. Once your mind creates that story, and you don't check it, it starts to believe it. As a result, you get frustrated, cortisol (the stress hormone) is released, and your muscles tighten.
On the other hand, if you stay positive and tell yourself you can do it, your mind starts looking for evidence to support that story. Every point you win becomes confirmation. Before you know it, you're playing with confidence.
The takeaway is simple: the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and about the world around us influence our perception and experience far more than we realize.