What Is Metacognition? How Olympic Skier Eileen Gu ‘Hacks’ Her Brain To Achieve Any Goal
Experts say the technique is easier than you may think—and it really works
What if you could literally become exactly who you want to be? That’s not just wishful thinking—it’s what six-time Olympic medalist Eileen Gu, 22, does every single day. And when she revealed exactly how she hacks her brain to achieve her goals in a post-race press conference, the whole world stopped to listen. Her secret? A powerful practice called metacognition. Experts say her advice really works. And the best part? You can easily use this same brain trick in your own life. Keep reading to learn what metacognition is and the simple, three-step process you can use to harness this practice at home.
What Eileen Gu said about her powerful thought process
You may recognize Gu as the American skier who honors her mother’s heritage by skiing for Team China. She isn’t just the world’s most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history—she’s also brilliant and has studied at Stanford and Oxford. So when she shared her thought process, it was like getting a masterclass in success.
When a reporter asked about her mental approach, Gu’s answer was so profound that it went viral. She shared, “I spend a lot of time in my head, and it’s not a bad place to be. I journal a lot. I break down all of my thought processes. I think I apply a very analytical lens to my own thinking, and I kind of modify it.”
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Why her comments about metacognition went viral
Gu said something that made everyone realize just how powerful our thoughts really are: “You can control how you think, and therefore you can control who you are… with neuroplasticity on my side, I can literally become exactly who I want to be. How cool is that? How empowering is that, right?”
Gu continued, “So the fact is, I get to become every day the kind of person that me, at age eight, would revere… I think that’s the biggest flex of all time that you can have.”
And then she shared the most empowering part of all: “Yes, I spend a lot of time in my own head. Yes, I think a lot. But it’s not really like, in an egotistical kind of way. It’s in, like a tinkering, like a scientist kind of way. I’m always like trying to modify. I’m trying to think: How can I be better? How can I approach my own brain the way that I approach my craft of free skiing, so that I can be better tomorrow than I was today?”
What is metacognition?
So what exactly is this practice that Gu uses so successfully? Simply put, metacognition is thinking about your thinking. It’s your ability to understand, analyze and actually control how your mind works as you learn new things or tackle challenges. Think of it as becoming the director of your own thoughts rather than just letting them happen to you.
To understand just how powerful this practice is, we spoke with Benjamin Doolittle, MD, from Yale University School of Medicine, who specializes in medicine and spirituality. We asked him: Can our thoughts actually change our brain? The answer: A resounding yes! “Boy, now there is a lot of data. There’s an abundance of data on that.” He explains that science has proven that practices like metacognition, prayer, journaling and mindfulness actually reshape our brain pathways, making Gu’s approach not just inspiring, but scientifically sound.
When asked specifically about metacognition, Dr. Doolittle adds, “I totally believe that. There’s data about visualization and watching yourself, imagining yourself hitting a perfect forehand, for example.” In short: thinking about successful thinking really works.
Indeed, a study published in Nature finds that people with higher levels of metacognition have a greater sense of motivation and belief that they can perform successfully.
This brain region holds the key to achieving your goals
Here’s where the magic happens: Metacognition occurs in part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex. Katrina Ubell, MD, who coaches high-achieving physicians to achieve their personal health goals, explains it this way: The primitive part of our brain just acts out of reflex. But the more evolved prefrontal cortex is capable of the thoughts that focus us toward our goals.
Dr. Ubell, author of How To Lose Weight for The Last Time, says that this part of the brain “allows us to think rationally and to think about what we’re thinking about (metacognition).” She adds, “It’s able to make plans, weigh the pros and cons of a situation and take into account what we know from the past and what we’ll want in the future.”
Here’s what this means for you: You have complete power over your thoughts. You can recognize when a thought isn’t serving you, choose whether to accept or dismiss it and deliberately think something that better supports your goals and dreams. You’re in the driver’s seat of your own mind.
How to use metacognition to achieve your goals
Before we dive into the three simple steps of metacognition, here’s an important distinction: There’s a difference between pointless ruminating (“I can’t believe I screwed up again”) and metacognition (“Let me think about why that happened so I’ll have a better outcome next time.”) Now follow this roadmap to get started with easy mindset shifts:
Step 1: Notice your thoughts without judgement
“Ironically, the first step in breaking free from this pattern [of overthinking] is to reflect on your thoughts about your thoughts, or your metacognitions,” says Jennifer L. Taitz, PsyD, author of Stress Resets. This reflection often gives clarity rather than keeps you in a rut. We can be separate from our thoughts.
Step 2: Identify which thoughts serve you—and which don’t
“By consciously labeling a specific thought as unhelpful, you have tapped into one of your brain’s superpowers: metacognition,” says wellness guru and Get Your Goal fitness program founder Pahla Bowers, author of Mind Over Menopause. “In turn, metacognition triggers your brain’s other superpower: neuroplasticity, meaning that you can think new things any time you want to.” It’s true: our thinking is flexible (like plastic) and can change.
Step 3: Choose a thought that supports your goals
This is where the transformation happens. Once you identify an unhelpful thought, you can consciously replace it with one that serves you better.
“Your brain is capable of forming new thoughts and sweeping old ones away,” Bowers says. “You are not at the mercy of your automatic thoughts. Metacognition enables you to make permanent and lasting changes in your life.”
That’s it. It’s that easy. Try Olympian Eileen Gu’s metacognition trick—whether mentally or through the physical act of journaling—and watch as your dreams come closer into view!
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