We’ve all felt them—those fluttery, anxious, chaotic little voices that show up before races, big workouts, even long training blocks. They don’t always say anything helpful. In fact, they usually don’t. But they’re there. And they matter.
A while back, QT2 Coach Tim Snow wrote something that was supposed to be a short blog post. Instead, it turned into a long-form exploration of the inner psychological chaos that often defines the athlete experience, and the role a coach can play in helping us make sense of it.
It’s called The Butterfly Affect.
Yes—affect, not effect. That’s intentional.
The entire premise rests on a single quote he heard from one of his athletes:
“The butterflies are never going to go away. You just need to get them to fly in formation.”
That stuck with him. Because it’s true. As athletes, we all have our own emotional chaos to manage—our doubts, our overreactions, our irrational expectations. And unlike a flock of birds flying neatly in a V, our butterflies don't follow any kind of order. They flit, they swerve, they spin out. Often at the worst possible moments.
So how do we respond? How do we steady the internal formation?
That’s what this piece explores—across six chapters that move through:
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Expectation Management (Are you chasing 100% fitness at 60% readiness?)
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Controllables vs. Uncontrollables (Are you trying to fight the wind?)
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Outcome vs. Target vs. Goal (Are your goals actually sabotaging you?)
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Perspective (Are you mistaking disappointment for discouragement?)
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Visualization as a Coping Tool (Are you mentally rehearsing the hard parts—not just the highlight reel?)
This isn’t a science textbook. It’s not a clinical treatise on sports psychology. It’s written by a coach, for athletes and coaches alike. Real language. Real athletes. Real experiences. The intent wasn’t to diagnose anything—it was to shed light on what we’re all feeling, and maybe give you a better way to think about it.
So if you’ve ever found yourself spiraling before a race…
If you’ve ever let one bad workout define your entire season…
If you’ve ever wondered why the self-talk turns toxic just when you need it most…
Then you may find this helpful.
👉 Read The Butterfly Affect (Full Article)
It’s a bit long. But I promise it’s worth it.
And if nothing else, it might help you get your butterflies in a little better formation.
