Success or Failure
We have all done it. Sat with family, friend or colleague and told them how badly things went.
The deal that didn’t close. Meeting’s that went sideways. The opportunity we lost.
It feels cathartic.
As if saying it out loud will somehow soften the blow.
But here’s the truth. Every time you talk about failure, your brain listens. It believes you. It builds a narrative. That you are unlucky. That you not cut out for this.
Over time, these stories become your identity. You stop taking risks. You stop believing.
A champion never does that.
A champion talks about what went right. They relive their victory. They analyze why it worked. They anchor themselves in success, not failure.
That’s not arrogance.
It’s a mindset. A conscious choice to wire your brain for belief, not doubt.
The practice is rooted in neuroscience. When you recount success, your brain releases dopamine—the reward chemical. You feel good. You want to do more.
When you dwell on failure, cortisol spikes. You shut down. protect and shrink into a defensive position.
This doesn’t mean you ignore mistakes. Champions study their losses in silence. Looking to extract lessons.
They don’t make it a story they repeat at every dinner table. They don’t tattoo it on their identity.
Talking about your success isn’t about bragging. It’s about remembering who you are at your best.
It’s about creating momentum. The more you talk like a winner, the more you act like one.
So the next time you catch yourself repeating a story of how things went wrong, pause.
Replace it with a story of how you won. Remind yourself of what you’re capable of.
Speak like a champion. Think like a champion. It is a choice you can make.
Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain
