Instead of using simple affirmations, Helms records videos of himself giving specific pep talks. Watching these during difficult moments creates "self-distancing," allowing him to receive encouragement from a calmer, more objective version of himself who isn't caught up in the current failure.
Related Insights
Traditional meditation aims to calm the nervous system, which may not be suitable when you need motivation and energy. For goals requiring drive and discipline, choose 'active' tools—like guided visualizations paired with cinematic music—that invigorate you and build momentum toward your objectives.
Pair a new desired mindset with an existing daily habit, like listening to an 'abundance' audio track while walking your dog. This uses classical conditioning (like Pavlov's dog) to train your brain to associate the everyday activity with the positive emotional state, making it automatic over time.
To manage imposter syndrome, give your inner critic a name and face (e.g., 'Alicia, the head cheerleader'). This externalizes the voice, making it less powerful and easier to reason with. It transforms an internal monster into a humanized character you can understand and even empathize with.
To handle constant rejection, mentalist Oz Perlman created a separate professional persona. When a trick was rejected, it was "Oz the magician" who failed, not Oz Perlman the person. This emotional distancing prevents personalizing failure and builds resilience, a crucial skill for any public-facing role.
A practical technique to halt negative self-talk is to personify your inner critic with a ridiculous name (e.g., "ass clown"). When negative thoughts arise, you directly address and dismiss this character out loud or in your head. This act of externalizing the voice serves as a powerful trigger to break the negative thought cycle.
Helms describes his early stand-up days where fellow comedians would high-five him after a failed set. This community support reframed failure not as a personal defeat but as a necessary, shared rite of passage, effectively building toughness and forging strong bonds.
Labels like 'imposter syndrome' or 'feeling like a failure' are purely mental stories, not physical realities. Your body doesn't know what 'failure' is; it only experiences sensations like a churning stomach or tightness in the chest. By focusing on the raw physical feeling, you disconnect from the mind's debilitating narrative.
To perform a dangerous, world-first dive, Carlson consciously uses overwhelming positivity to override her brain's fear signals. She calls this "gaslighting" herself into believing she's capable, a technique for extreme mental preparation under pressure.
To overcome dread, mentalist Oz Perlman sets a 24-hour alarm after completing a dreaded task. When the alarm rings a day later, he realizes the anxiety is gone. This trains the brain to recognize that anticipatory dread is temporary and irrational, making it easier to start next time.
People exhibit "Solomon's paradox": they are wiser when solving others' problems than their own. To overcome this, view your challenges through a third-person lens. Mentally frame the issue as if you were advising a friend—or even refer to yourself by name—to gain dispassionate clarity.
