True competitive belief is not the delusion that you'll win every time. It's the persistent conviction that you *can* win, even against seasoned champions. This “chip on the shoulder” mentality fuels the underdog energy needed to create upsets and build momentum.

Simply repeating affirmations can be ineffective, as your brain may reject them. Tony Robbins advocates for "incantations"—fully embodied declarations that use your voice, body, and intense emotion. This physiological engagement rewires your nervous system and builds a new identity.

The "Intensati" workout method combines physical movements with positive spoken affirmations (e.g., saying "I am strong now" with each punch). This practice layers the psychological benefits of positive self-talk on top of the neurochemical mood boost from the exercise itself, creating a powerful, synergistic effect.

Gilbert's core advice was that trying to hit a perfect winner on every shot was a losing strategy. He coached Agassi to focus on being steady and consistent—just good enough to be better than his one opponent that day—rather than chasing an unattainable ideal of perfection.

Don't fight a negative inner voice with empty affirmations. Instead, systematically collect small, undeniable proofs of your capability. Each piece of evidence erodes the credibility of your inner critic, making it easier to push past self-imposed limits.

Treat your mind as a biological system that can be rewired. Your brain doesn't distinguish between belief and repetition. By consistently repeating positive statements, you mechanistically hardwire new neural pathways through myelination, making positivity the brain's path of least resistance over time.

After years of his father's relentless criticism, Agassi internalized that voice to the point where he no longer needed external pressure to feel rage and impatience. He became his own harshest critic, demonstrating how formative external environments shape our internal monologue.

Research shows that sprinkling achievement-oriented words (e.g., “win,” “master,” “succeed”) into instructions primes people for success. Participants in studies performed better on tasks, were twice as willing to persist, and experienced physiological changes in dopamine and testosterone levels.

Society constantly sends thousands of messages that you are "not enough." David Choe combats this by consciously brainwashing himself with positivity. He writes affirmations like "I am worthy" on his mirror with deodorant, using physical, daily reminders to internalize a new belief system and reclaim his self-worth.