Keep That Self-Talk Positive!
Many of us have daily conversations with ourselves in our heads. We say things to ourselves like, “How could I have been so stupid?” “I can’t believe I did that!” “I’ll never get this right.” “I can’t possibly do this!”
Do you notice a pattern here?
Do you ever find yourself saying things like, “Good job on that one, kiddo!” “Wow, you sure knew what you were talking about in that meeting! Did you see the look on the boss's face?” “What a superb dinner you’ve created!” “You really should be proud of the way you delivered that speech!” “Sure you can do it – give it a try – you know you can!”
What’s the difference here? It’s obvious that in the first set of inner conversations, all you’re doing is putting yourself down, belittling yourself and your abilities. That sure doesn’t get you anywhere. In the other set of inner conversations, you’re building yourself up, not in an egomaniacal sort of way, but rather in a self-supportive, self-acknowledging way.
It’s important to monitor your self-talk – the way in which you speak to yourself about yourself. Make positive self-talk a priority. Use positive affirmations on a daily basis to change your inner dialog with yourself.
You can make some easy modifications to your daily “I-talk” that will reap positive results. For example:
• Say, “I will…” rather than “I’ll try to…”
• Acknowledge a personal achievement by giving yourself a much-deserved “pat on the back.”
• Remind yourself that you are knowledgeable, capable and able to succeed in any given situation.
• When you find that you are speaking negatively about yourself, make a conscious effort to say, “STOP!” Then, immediately say something positive in its place.
Many of the words we use when we talk to ourselves have been programmed by our parents, teachers and other authority figures. That doesn’t make them true and it doesn’t make them correct.
We all have the power within us to change this negative self-talk, but it requires work, a conscious effort and perhaps the help of a coach or counselor to help us get there. However, you are worth the effort and your life will change dramatically when you change the way in which you speak to yourself!
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