We’ve all heard of Einstein’s E = mc². But I’d like to introduce a new universal law, one that explains why some of us can’t seem to get through a Zoom call without forgetting what we were saying halfway through.

P = U – T.

Performance equals you minus thinking.

Let that sink in for a moment. Or don’t — because that would be more thinking, and we’re trying to cut back.

Now, Timothy Gallwey — the original mind whisperer — had a similar idea. He said your actual performance equals your potential minus interference. I think he was being polite. “Interference” sounds like bad Wi-Fi. What he really meant was thinking too much.

Because let’s face it: when it comes to performance, our greatest obstacle isn’t lack of skill, talent, or opportunity. It’s the six-inch space between our ears where a 24/7 talk radio station is broadcasting all our greatest hits:

• “What if I fail?”
• “What will they think?”
• “Did I lock the front door?”
• “Why am I even doing this?”

The truth is, you can’t think your way into peak performance any more than you can think your way into sleep. You have to get out of the way long enough for you to show up.

And then there’s the big one: the feeling of failure.
We treat it like it’s radioactive — something to avoid at all costs. We dance around it, dress it up, deny it, and sometimes even take it out for coffee to talk about how it makes us feel. But here’s the plot twist: that feeling isn’t coming from failure at all. It’s coming from thought. Your own thought. The mind’s equivalent of a special effects department gone rogue.

So the next time you find yourself overthinking your performance, remember the formula:

P = U – T.

Less thinking, more doing.

And if you find yourself failing spectacularly — good news! You’re still performing, just with a bit of extra “T” in the mix.

Now take a breath, trust yourself, and for heaven’s sake — stop thinking about how to stop thinking.

Cheers to Untethering Your Potential!

If you found this helpful, share a line or two back to me. Share this with a friend who over-thinks; we all have at least one!

Here are two great videos that might be helpful; certainly, they won’t hurt to watch.