Insecurity is one of the cruelest forms of self-sabotage, an emotion that tends to creep in at our most pivotal moments: a date, a big meeting, a test—choose just about any major life event, it can feel like a challenge to win over that tiny voice in your head that says, “You suck at this!” and “Why even bother?”
Now imagine trying to battle those thoughts in front of a global audience. Picture the self-doubt that could undo decades of training for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Did you practice hard enough? Eat right? Lift the right amount of weight? Reach the perfect height in your double layout into a front tuck?
The answer you should be repeating over and over again in your head? Hell yes, you did.
At least that’s the key strategy among some of the world’s finest Olympic athletes. GOOD sat down with several of them during a media event this past spring in Los Angeles and posed a straightforward question: How do you, an athlete at the pinnacle of sport, overcome the scheming voice in your head called doubt? We might not be up for any gold, but we still can take away a few tips and live life like Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas and the others below.
Aly Raisman
“I think just practice, so when you compete you don’t have any doubt in your mind. Because if you have one percent doubt, that one percent can throw you off.”
Sam Mikulak
“The best thing that has really stood out for me stemmed frommindfulness training when I was in college. Anything where I’m just focusing on my breathing. It’s called ‘the routine before the routine.’ I just make sure that everything I do before is nothing new, nothing negative—I’m just flooding my mind with positive thoughts and encouraging words. I try to keep that the same even in training, before every routine I do. So there’s nothing new, nothing I’m not prepared for for the Olympic Games.”
Gabby Douglas
“You really have to just cast that out and just believe the time you were given is for a reason. And you have to believe and be positive in what you do.”
Donnell Whittenburg
“Usually I just try to go out there and see if I can do the routine the best I can. Usually when it does happen then all doubts go away. Then it’s like, ‘Alright, cool, I’ve done this before, I can definitely do it again.’ “
Madison Hughes
[quote position="right" is_quote="true"]I’m just flooding my mind with positive thoughts and encouraging words.[/quote]
“I always come back to knowing that we’ve worked really hard as a team, (and) I’ve worked really hard as an individual. I’ve practiced everything I’m doing so many times that if I doubt myself, I can come back to that — that I’ve practiced this thing so I know I can do it. Also, I love being a part of a team sport because any time I’m doubting myself I can go to one of my teammates and say, ‘Hey, this is how I’m feeling,’ and they can reassure me, help me know, ‘OK, I’ve got you.’
“It is easy to feel doubt, and when things don’t go your way on the field, when you have setbacks, when you lose a game you should’ve won, it’s easy to say, ‘Can I compete at this level?’ Having your team that’s around you, having that support structure, is always really helpful.”
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Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.