Bhrett McCabe
How to Handle the Noise
Think of the loudest sound you've ever heard. A concert, a busy city street, a roaring stadium. It's a physical force—a wall of sound that feels like it's designed to disrupt and dismantle your focus. That external chaos is powerful. But in my work with elite performers, I've learned a fundamental truth: the most disruptive noise is never the one on the outside. It's the one inside your own head.
The Three-Front War
The first step to handling noise is to understand you're fighting on three fronts at once.
1. The External Noise
This is the most obvious source—the critics, the social media comments, the roar from the cheap seats. This noise tempts you to perform for them, either to win their approval or prove them wrong. The moment you take that bait, you’ve surrendered control.
2. The "Friendly" Noise
This is more subtle and often more dangerous. It's the anxious hope of a spouse or the expectations of a supportive boss. Their emotional energy adds to the mental burden you have to carry, and their hopes can feel like another weight on your shoulders.
3. The Internal Noise
This is the voice of your own doubt and fear—the conversation between your Champ and your Chump. It’s your internal dialogue, and it’s the noise that truly sabotages performance by replaying your last mistake and questioning your next move.
A Professional's Playbook for Focus
Let’s be clear: a "quiet" mind isn't a calm one; it's a focused one, trained to execute in a storm. The goal isn't to pretend the noise isn't there; it's to use it as a cue to lock in even harder. This is a trainable skill, built on a clear process.
Step 1: The Power of Acceptance
The moment you argue with the noise, you've lost. The professional's first move is acceptance. You acknowledge reality without judgment: "That was a bad shot." Acceptance isn't surrender; it's the strategic choice to stop wasting energy on a fight you can't win.
Step 2: Shrink Your World
Once you've accepted the noise, your world has to get smaller. This is the essence of "what you focus on you become." When the noise is overwhelming, your focus must narrow to the next controllable action—the six inches between your ears, a single breath, one simple performance cue.
Step 3: Control Your Internal Dialogue
The final step is to take control of your internal dialogue. This isn't about 'positive thinking'; it's about useful thinking. The untrained voice screams, "Don't mess up." The trained voice gives a clear, simple instruction: "See the target. Commit to it."
Winning the Moment
The noise is the environment. The amateur waits for it to get quiet. The professional trains to find their focus in the middle of it. This battle—to stay present, manage your inner critic, and execute in the chaos—is the entire game.