The Cairn Practice

The Practice

Notes on the mind behind performance — the psychology and research we’re reading, the journals we make, and conversations with people worth listening to.

Self-compassion isn't softPsychology

Self-compassion isn't soft

After a bad session most of us reach for the inner critic, sure it keeps our standards high. The research says it...

July 3, 2026 · 4 min read
Who are you when you're not training?Identity

Who are you when you're not training?

A strong athletic identity is rocket fuel — and, the research warns, a single point of failure. On building a self that...

July 3, 2026 · 4 min read
Nerves aren't the enemyPerformance

Nerves aren't the enemy

The racing heart before you start isn't a malfunction — it's your body mobilising. What the research on arousal, reappraisal and "challenge...

July 3, 2026 · 6 min read
Why writing it down worksGetting started

Why writing it down works

We train the body to the decimal and leave the mind to chance. A look at why reflection actually works — and...

July 3, 2026 · 3 min read