“I figured that if I said enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest.” ~ Muhammad Ali
Psychologists say that the average person has more than 60,000 thoughts a day, and seventy-five percent of those thoughts are negative. That’s pretty frightening when you consider that what we say to ourselves shapes our thinking, our thinking frames what we believe, and what we believe determines our actions and our behavior. Just like the classic children’s story, The Little Engine That Could, we can choose to support or defeat ourselves with our own “self-talk”.
How is your self-talk limiting you and your team? Are you and those around you constantly focused on the problems and limitations? Perhaps it’s time to change the little voice! In the quote above, Ali was doing more than convincing the world; he was convincing himself too! This newsletter offers some tips on using language to your advantage. More is offered in Chapter 8, Language, of Water The Bamboo®: Unleashing the Potential of Teams and Individuals
Seven Ways to Reprogram your “Self-Talk”
- Use Affirmations
Affirmations are a powerful and conscious way to guide your self-talk. Because they are so simple and easy to use, most people underestimate their power. However, affirmations have been successfully used by medical patients, businesspeople, athletes, psychologists, and other successful people for centuries.Create short, positive statements about what you want to be true for yourself. Here are some sample affirmations:
“I am confident and positive.”
“I enjoy my time with my co-workers.”
“I am calm under pressure.” - Take action towards your goals; don’t wait until things are perfect
- Ask yourself and your team appreciative questions.
- Keep a journal of what is working well for you and your team
- Spend time with uplifting people; limit time with “negaholics”
- Read inspiring books, poems, and quotes
- 21-day challenge: For the next 21 days repeat the three affirmations above 10 times/day.
