My self to self talk can be powerful. My favorite outcome came playing for the point in a big 2 day bar box 9 ball event. I had never made it that deep in a big event with a large gallery. I kinda seized up and time after time got to the 7 or 8 and Missed. As I racked my final time down 6-2 going to 7 my talk was similar to the movie Tin Cup. Self says, "Don't worry about looking helpless. You've already done That! This is a big event and perhaps he has never been on the big stage Either. How about if You, I, We just quit handing him the game and see what happens. " Somehow the inevitability of the loss removed the tension and I performed beyond my wildest imaginings....And won 7-6. The only shot I remember is the final combination on the 9 ball.
Success breeds confidence for sure. In a Northwest regional event I went down by a big margin in similar fashion. I don't recall the self to self, just the confidence that I felt when I caught up with him to go hill/hill. I just knew I could make any shot or safety if I got to the table . It was alternating break and he snapped the 9 ball!!!
