Mantra....

Partly in jest, does anyone use a “mantra” while acquiring/maintaining sight picture at distance?

Yes. You remember the movie "The Right Stuff"?

Scott Glenn is playing Scott Carpenter, during the Mercury program launch of the Friendship 7 spacecraft.

He says "Please Lord, don't let me **** this up..."

Praise be to the Lord my Rock,
who trains my hands for war,
my fingers for battle.
He is my loving God and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield, in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples a under me.

"focus on the reticle, steady pressure on the trigger." - Ryan Cleckner.

I say it in my head every time (if I have time) I send a round.