We all know that there are many factors that influence our attitudes from the outside – what we watch on TV, what the people around us say, what we read etc. But what about the things you say to yourself on the inside?

Does the subject of self-talk make you uncomfortable? I know when I first learned about “self-talk,” I thought it sounded hokey, cheesy, and just weird. So if you feel that way, know that I understand where you are. None the less, I ask you to keep your mind open for a few minutes because what you can learn can significantly change not only your outlook on life, but the amount of success that you experience.

You talk to yourself all the time. Think about it. Thoughts run through your mind driving to an appointment, as you fall asleep, as you consider the outcome of an upcoming meeting. Whether you know it or not, your thoughts are feeding your mind, and you are experience self-talk. The question, then, is, “Is your experience with self-talk positive or negative?”

Do you think things like, “I am not prepared for this presentation.” “I am going to bomb this exam.” “Why am I going to this place? No one there is going to be interested in my product.” These thoughts do not help you in any way because eventually, your mind believes whatever you tell it. The more you think something, the more likely it is to come true. If you tell yourself no one is going to like you or your product, you are more likely to conduct yourself in a way that will make your thoughts manifest themselves in reality.

The good news is that the opposite is true, too. When you spend your time on the way to a sales presentation thinking things like, “This is a great product, and I am the best person to present it. I am going to make $x of sales today,” those thoughts are more likely to come true.

Here are three steps to make your self-talk work for you instead of against you:

1. Pay attention to the thoughts that currently run through your mind and stop yourself when you hear negative comments. In other words, if you catch yourself thinking things that you do NOT want to happen, do everything in your power to STOP thinking those thoughts.

2. Pick one positive statement that you can say to yourself, and say it! In fact, say it out loud! Use this statement IN PLACE of the negative thoughts we discussed in step one-it’s one of the most effective and immediate ways to stop feeding yourself negative self-talk.

3. Obtain Shad Helmstetter’s book, What to Say When you Talk To Yourself and start reading it. Regardless of your attitude about self-talk when you started listening to this training tip, you will find incredible value in his words. The book is short, simple, and very powerful.

Your self-talk is affecting how you feel and the kind of results you see. So, be pro-active about what you say to yourself, feel better, and achieve more success!

Be Free!

Leah Simpson
Instructor