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When the pressure of a hard game or practice sets in, it can be easy to panic and let our minds race.
But having a mantra—a specific word or phrase that we repeat in our minds—can calm that panic and bring you back to center.
“Mantras are a great tool for grounding and recentering one’s focus,” VIS Expert Bailey Devin, MS, says.
These easy mental performance tools are effective, simple, and—the best part? Totally free and customizable.
Your mantra can come from anywhere. It could be a quote that resonates with you, a song lyric, or just a phrase that helps you feel calm.
They can be as short as one word or as long as a whole sentence. What matters is that they’re easy to remember and mean something to you.
If you’re working on creating a mantra, start by thinking about what calms you.
Some short prompts to consider are:
What words quiet the noise and bring you back into the moment?
What phrases keep you focused on what’s in front of you?
What affirmations boost your confidence?
Answering these questions can help you think about what phrases might work for you.
Because mantras are personal, you don’t have to tell anyone else what yours is. So you don’t have to worry about feeling embarrassed or silly about what it is that helps you.
Mantras are specific. They’re like personal totems that resonate specifically with you. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have some help brainstorming mantra ideas.
Here are mantras that keep our WNBA Changemakers Mentors focused on gameday.
“Respect everyone, fear no one.” | Brianna Turner
“Control what you can control.” | Ty Harris, Rae Burrell, Saniya Rivers
“Play free, trust your instincts, and dare to create.” | Marine Johannès.
“Hoop over hype.” | Lexie Brown
“Enjoy the process, especially when it’s hard.” | Alanna smith
“God I thank you.” | Alysha Clark
“My value comes from who I am, not what I do.” | Michaela Onyenwere
“Failure is the opportunity not taken.” | Natasha Howard
“I deserve to be here.” | Kiah Stokes
“I am equipped for everything that comes my way.” | Aliyah Boston
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