The Power of Mental Rehearsal: From Snipers to School Debates
In sniper school, I didn’t just teach Navy SEALs how to shoot. Shooting was the easy part. What separated a decent marksman from an elite sniper wasn’t trigger control—it was mental control.
When the pressure hit, when the shot really mattered, the body followed the mind. That’s where mental rehearsal came in. We taught snipers to visualize every step before it happened—the breathing, the sight picture, the trigger squeeze, the stress in the moment, even the calm after the shot. When the moment came, it wasn’t “new.” They’d already been there a hundred times in their head.
Fast forward to me as a dad, sitting across from my son who was nervous about an elementary school presentation. It’s common for many people to suffer from a fear of speaking in public. Sweaty palms, shaky voice, and you’re ready to bolt!
So I walked him through visualization. “Close your eyes. See yourself walking to the front of the class. Imagine yourself nervous. Take a deep breath in. Hear the sound of your voice. Picture the kids listening, nodding. Feel the calm in your chest.” I could tell he thought it was a bit weird at first, but he tried it. Then he tried it again. And again.
Pretty soon, those classroom presentations weren’t a source of dread. They were rehearsals he’d already run in his mind.
A few years later, that same nervous kid was standing on stage, winning speech and debate competitions.
Here’s the point: kids don’t have to be Navy SEAL snipers to benefit from mental rehearsal.
Visualization is a tool for resilience, confidence, and positive development. Whether it’s a presentation, a big game, or a tough conversation, teaching our kids to see success before it happens wires them to believe it’s possible.
It worked for snipers. It worked for my son and his siblings. And it can work for any kid learning how to step into the arena, whatever that looks like.
This is just one of the many lessons I’m sharing in my upcoming book Puddle Jumpers: How to Grow Bold, Joyful, Resilient Kids, One Mess at a Time (Spring 2026).
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Brandon
