The placebo effect is real.
In some studies, with certain types of illness, it can be as effective as actual medicine (up to 50%).
When we string together a series of successful events, it gives us a great opportunity to create our own placebo in a way.
A set of activities, or situations that we believe will be effective at creating an outcome.
For me, before I do work on the handstand, I have a specific warmup.
On coaching days, I start the day with a specific breakfast at a certain time.
I have my coffee at a fairly specific time.
I do these things because they have worked very well in the past, so it has created a conditioned belief that it will continue to work for me in the future.
Is it the actual timing or routine that is effective for me?
Or is it the belief that it is?
Probably a bit of both depending on the case. But, ultimately, it doesn’t matter. Embracing routines, ideas or models that seem to produce an effective result can be an effective way to almost create your own placebo.
Whether I’m tricking myself into a certain outcome, or actually applying the true physiological stimulus to get that outcome is not as relevant to me as the actual outcome.
If the routine works, use it I say.
