The Conversation That Shapes Your Game & Life
Why Self-Talk Is the True Game Within the Game
The single greatest separator in sports and in life is the voice you choose to listen to.
Every athlete trains their body. Fewer train their mind. Almost none train their inner voice.
But it’s your inner voice that shows up when you fail. It’s the one that talks to you before the biggest at-bat of your life. It’s the one that whispers to you after a missed shot, a bad inning, or a game you’d rather forget.
And here’s the truth: You’re always talking to yourself. The only question is whether you’re letting that voice run wild—or whether you’ve trained it to help you win.
I like to think of this as 'The Inner Locker Room'.
Every thought is a teammate. Some help you. Some hurt you. Your job is to keep your best teammates on the field and send the rest to the bench.
Negative Thoughts Aren’t the Problem
Having negative thoughts is part of being human. We all do.
The danger comes when those fleeting thoughts turn into lingering conversations. That’s when they start shaping how you see yourself, your abilities, and your future.
A great way to take control in the moment is 'The 3-Second Rule for Self-Talk':
Notice the thought – Don’t judge it. Just catch it.
Name it – “That’s a negative story, not a fact.”
Neutralize it – Shift to a mantra or identity statement.
Example: Instead of, “I always mess up in big moments,” shift to, “I’ve prepared for this, and I know what to do.”
Over time, this rewires your brain to default to productive self-talk instead of destructive loops.
Choosing Your Narrative
Another core MLM teaching is Control the Controllables, and owning your narrative is 100% in your power.
Athletes don’t control every outcome. But they always control the story they tell themselves about it.
Strikeout? Story 1: “I’m not clutch.” Story 2: “I’m learning how to stay calm in pressure.”
Benched? Story 1: “Coach doesn’t believe in me.” Story 2: “I’m going to use this time to sharpen my game.”
Slump? Story 1: “Something’s wrong with me.” Story 2: “Every player goes through this. I’ll work my way through it.”
Same moment. Different narrative. Completely different future.
This is why, inside our Mental Gym training, self-talk reps are just as important as swing reps.
Where to Start
Here’s a MLM Self-Talk Workout you can do today:
Morning Reset – Write down one focus phrase you want to repeat throughout the day.
Midday Check-In – Pause for 30 seconds, notice your inner voice, and redirect it if needed.
End of Day / End of Game Reflection – Journal one thing you did well and one thing you’ll work on—no judgment, just action.
Building the Muscle Daily
The truth is, mastering self-talk is just like strength training—you have to rep it daily.
That’s why we built the MLM+ App. Inside, you’ll find guided mindset reps, visualization sessions, and journaling prompts to train your inner voice—so when the game is on the line, your self-talk is your greatest weapon.
Because the most important conversation you’ll ever have is the one you have with yourself.
👉 Start training your self-talk inside the MLM+ App.
In your corner,
-Brandon
