In July of 2011 I wrote a post about tuning in and listening to the words you use when you talk to yourself. The title was You are Exactly what you Think and I am in need of a refresher. Want to know who you are? Tune in to the conversation inside your head. Your thoughts accurately reflect who you think you are.
I read a statement last week that said something to the effect that the worst thing someone could say to us in an argument is something we already fear (or know) to be true. The voices in our head know the truth. The voices know if we are procrastinating. They know when we lie (to ourselves or others). The voices also know how to trick us into believing untruths about ourselves. This, my friend is where it all gets tricky; because our minds can spin an event to the positive or to the negative.
Does your mind always spin to the negative? Do you take every event and put yourself in the most negative position?
The good news is – you can change!
Sure, you learned a habit. Perhaps it came from your parents. Perhaps it is a defense mechanism. Why you developed it isn’t as important as discovering how you can change. It is time to embrace the new and improved (i.e. positive) you!
What I want to you start for this week is to begin a regimen of saying good things to yourself.
Make sure they are positive statements, not negatives masquerading as positives. For example, ‘I won’t be negative’ is a negative statement masquerading as a positive.
Ten times each day make a positive statement to you (and mean it). You will feel better about yourself by weeks end. Because you are what you think you are…think yourself into a more positive you!
Here are a few statements to get you started:
- I’m making progress.
- I can handle this.
- I’m willing to try.
- I am in control of this.
- I am excellent at … writing/singing/problem solving
- I have a fantastic … mind/talent/ability with people
- I keep trying.
- I’ll get it.
Tomorrow we’re going to talk about positive problem solving. So come back tomorrow.
This post reminded me of the book/movie “The Help” where Aibileen the maid is teaching the little girl she is watching to repeat “I is kind. I is smart. I is important.” every day. Positive self talk makes a difference. Thank you for this important reminder!