Write It, Believe It, Achieve It: Visualization Lessons from Champions

Visualization is a powerful tool. It’s the practice of mentally rehearsing your goals—not just dreaming about the result, but seeing the work it takes to get there. And this weekend, Coco Gauff reminded the world just how real and powerful that practice can be.

On Saturday, Gauff became the 2025 French Open Champion, coming from a set down to defeat world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. At just 21 years old, she’s now won two Grand Slam titles and become the first American woman to win at Roland Garros since Serena Williams in 2015.

But the real story—the one that caught my attention—came after the match.

Shortly after her victory, Gauff shared two handwritten notes on Instagram. One was dated June 8, 2021, when she was just 17 years old. It read:

“I had a dream last night that I will win French Open idk if it is true or if it is this years French Open but I had a dream abt it.”

The second was a page where she repeatedly wrote:

“I will win the French Open 2025.”

Inspired by Olympic track champion Gabby Thomas, Gauff turned her dream into a goal—and her goal into a daily affirmation.

If you’re studying for the bar exam, this matters.

It’s easy to look at elite athletes and think their success comes only from talent or coaching. But champions like Coco Gauff and swimmer Regan Smith—who set a world record at the U.S. Olympic Trials last summer—also show us something more universal: They visualize success, and they write it down.

Smith did it by placing a pink sticky note on her fridge with a goal time: 57.13 seconds in the 100-meter backstroke. Gauff did it by scripting her victory before it happened.

You can do the same for the bar exam. Here’s how:

🎯 Set Clear Goals

Write them down. Tape them to your fridge, mirror, laptop—wherever you'll see them daily. Don’t just think, “I want to pass the bar.” Be specific: “I will pass the July 2025 bar exam.”

🧠 Visualize the Process, Not Just the Outcome

Imagine yourself studying effectively, taking timed exams, reviewing feedback, and walking into the exam room calm and prepared. See every step—not just the finish line.

✍️ Make It Real

Don’t just dream it. Write it. Type it. Speak it out loud. Like Gauff, you can borrow a champion’s technique and say it until you believe it.

🔁 Repetition Builds Belief

One note is powerful. But repetition is transformational. Gauff didn’t write her affirmation once—she filled an entire page. Repeating your goal can turn doubt into determination.

Both Coco Gauff and Regan Smith faced obstacles. Both committed to their goals, visualized the result, and backed it up with daily action.

So ask yourself:

📌 What’s your sticky note?

📌 What’s your French Open moment?

Whatever your answer, write it down. Visualize it. Then get to work.