“It’s not the snake bite that kills you—it’s the venom that’s left behind.” — Wayne Dyer

We left off in Part 5 talking about how past performances, especially the ones that don’t go your way, can plant seeds of self-doubt that grow if not addressed. Today, we go deeper into what happens after the event—how you process it, or how you don’t.

I remember listening to Wayne Dyer once speak about the danger of holding on to emotional pain. He made this simple but powerful observation: it’s not the snake bite that kills you, it’s the venom that’s left behind. That venom? It looks like resentment, shame, guilt, fear, frustration—all the things we hold onto long after the moment has passed.

And here's the truth: we don’t have a delete button in our brain. Events happen. People say things. We fail. We get criticized. And unless we process those experiences, it can start to feel like stuffing golf balls into a garden hose. Eventually, when the pressure builds and the water turns on, there’s no flow.

That’s what happens when we don’t clear.

What Is Clearing?

Clearing is a mental and emotional technique I learned that has become one of the most important tools in my entire Mind Strength toolbox. It’s the act of removing the venom, unclogging the hose, and freeing yourself to perform at your best again. The mechanism behind clearing..? Forgiveness. 

And I’ll be honest—this one surprises people.

When I bring up the concept of forgiveness to athletes or teams in the middle of a Mind Strength session, I sometimes get puzzled looks. What does forgiveness have to do with mental performance? Everything.

I used this exact practice before every game I played, and I still use it before every Mind Strength talk I give. Because the truth is: your energy is everything. And if your energy is clogged with resentment, fear, or regret, it impacts your focus, your confidence, and your freedom to flow.

How to Clear (Step-by-Step)

There are two parts to clearing: External and Internal. You can write these out or speak them out loud. Personally, I like to go on a walk and say them out loud.

1. Clear the External

This means forgiving the external world (people, events, things out of my control)

Examples:

• I forgive my coach for the negative things he said to me in front of my teammates. 
• I forgive the media for criticizing my performance.
• I forgive my parents for causing a scene at the game and being a distraction.

It doesn’t mean what happened was okay—it just means I’m choosing to “clear” it from me & to not carry the venom.

2. Clear the Internal

This step is even more powerful: forgive yourself.

Examples:

• I forgive myself for letting that comment knock my confidence.
• I forgive myself for taking what my Little League coach said personally.
• I forgive myself for believing that I’m responsible for my parents well-being. 
• I forgive myself for fearing making a mistake on the biggest stage. 
• I forgive myself for fearing and worrying about getting injured.

This step is often where the true release happens. We are usually harder on ourselves than anyone else ever could be.

Put It Into Practice

Here’s how you can begin incorporating clearing into your routine:

Before a big game, a stressful event, or even just to reset at the end of your day—go for a walk or find a quiet space. Speak the forgiveness statements out loud or write them down. Start with the external: who or what do you need to forgive? Then move to the internal: what do you need to release within yourself?

As you do this, say the statements with intention. Then, take a deep, cleansing breath. Inhale peace. Exhale the venom. Visualize the weight leaving your body and mind.

Like all things in Mind Strength, clearing is a practice. A skill. Something you return to regularly. You may have to clear the same thing over and over—that doesn’t mean it’s broken, it means you’re human.

The more consistently you clear, the more space you create—for focus, energy, clarity, and confidence.

Don’t underestimate it. This is a high-performance habit that frees you to play and live with power.

And if you want to level up your inner peace, your clarity, and your performance—don’t skip this step either.  

Final Thought: 

The mind is not a trash can. You can’t just stuff things in and hope it all works out. If you want to be great, you must learn how to clear. It may be the single most important mental performance habit you build.

And here’s the best part: this isn’t just for athletes. This is for anyone who wants to release instead of resent. To let go instead of hold on. It’s for leaders, parents, teachers, partners, performers—everyone.

I joke with my wife sometimes after she does something funny or frustrating that she’s on my “clearing list,” and we get a good laugh out of it. But the truth is, clearing is serious business. It's a phenomenal skill to help you clear your energy field so you can be your best—mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

Stay tuned for Part 7 next week, where now that we've cleared, we'll begin to create strengthening thoughts—the building blocks of the empowering belief system you want to live by. This is where the real transformation begins: replacing old patterns with intentional thoughts that fuel confidence, clarity, and purpose.

If you haven’t caught up on the previous parts of this series, now’s the time to go back and build the foundation.

See you next week!

If you missed the earlier posts, you can catch up here:

• 1: Strengthen Your Belief System: How Confidence Gets Built from the Inside Out
• 2: Out with the Old & In with the New: Disempowering Your Inner Critic
• 3: Trace It to Erase It: Where Your Inner Critic Was Born
• 4: Debunking the Inner Critic (Empty Wells + Comparison)
• 5: Debunk & Disarm: Shining the Light on False Beliefs (Part 2)