How to pronounce "retrieving"

Why do we sometimes fail to perform up to our potential under pressure?

We often get in our own way

precisely because our worries prompt us to concentrate too much.

So what do we do? A lot of it comes down to the prefrontal cortex,

that front part of our brain that sits over our eyes

and usually helps us focus in positive ways.

It often gets hooked on the wrong things.

So how do we unhook it?

Something as simple as singing a song,

can help us take our mind off those pesky details.

It's also true that practicing under conditions that we're going to perform under --

closing the gap between training and competition

can help us get used to that feeling of all eyes on us.

When you're taking a test, close the book,

practice retrieving the answer from memory under timed situations.

The ability to get used to what it will feel like

can make the difference in whether we choke or thrive.