“Relentless, repetitive self talk is what changes our self-image.” ~ Denis Waitley
When it comes to our daily activities, most of us have a wide variety of conversations. One of the most powerful and influential conversations we have are the ones we have with ourselves. No one knows us better, no one has more ability to inspire or disrupt, and no one has more power to manage what we hear and how we hear it than us. The conversations you have with yourself can and do define everything.
Several years ago, one of my mentors used to challenge my perspective on life with a very simple thought –“if you don’t like something, change your mind.” He used to frustrate me whenever he would drop that remark onto my snarly attitude. Then I discovered the power of changing your mind.
We are who we tell ourselves we are. We believe what we tell ourselves we believe. We can often determine outcomes by what we predict will be the outcome of our actions. If you want to change your image, your attitude, your outcomes, change your conversations. More importantly, change the conversations you have with yourself. When you relentlessly and repeatedly have affirming, positive, and reinforcing conversations with yourself, you are changing your attitude, hence your outcomes.
Over the past few months I started listening to the transitions in the words I use. My word choices have become more positive, supportive, and affirming. It doesn’t mean I do not have failures, challenges, or stress – it simply means that I choose to look at those emotions, events and experiences as an opportunity to find accomplishment and I am trusting in the opportunity of my journey.
Expecting or anticipating defeat will bring on failure because that is what we predicted anyway. Envisioning a successful outcome increases the likelihood of a positive event because we start to talk, think and act as though it will be so. That type of energy projects outward and it provides an internal confidence. When you expect success, you start to create success.
Self-talk has everything to do with the outcome. Have great conversations with yourself; think, act, believe, and trust in your gifts and your outcomes will improve.
