Self-talk is unique in that it is a form of self-motivation. No one knows you better than yourself, and in some cases, a coach or teammate might not be around to help give you a mental boost. This is especially true in individual sports like tennis, golf, and track and field. Watch a typical tennis match and you will frequently see athletes give a fist pump followed by a verbal, “Let’s go!” after a big shot.

Sometimes self-talk is intentional, and other times it can be spontaneous. Spontaneous, undirected self-talk might be a reaction similar to the tennis athlete getting fired up after an ace or a drop shot that scored a crucial point. In this case, self-talk is used to keep emotions high. Goal-directed self-talk might happen in a more intentional manner. For example, rather than scoring a big point, your opponent gets the point on you. In this case, you can find key words or cues to raise your level of confidence and help rebound from the momentary setback.

Like many other strategies used to increase confidence, self-talk works differently for everyone. Self-talk can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Increasing self-confidence

• Managing stress levels

• Increasing focus and attention to detail

• Increasing motivation and effort