The Language of Success
The Magic of Positive Self-Talk
"You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn't worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens."
— Louise L. Hay
The Language of Success
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life
Rushing through life is a problem we all face, even in tasks as seemingly mundane as grocery shopping. To make the best shopping choices, grocery shopping hall of famers never do it when in a rush and never when hungry. Failure to follow this wisdom leads to a cart filled with the best packaging, higher costs, and lots of cupcakes and cheesy poofs (or maybe that’s just my cart?).
You will walk by thousands of choices in the supermarket, every one is designed to get your time, attention, and ultimately your money. With more time and awareness, we make better choices. We read labels, look at cost per unit, and plan ahead. Being mindful improves our decision-making and the quality of life.
The same is true of the words we choose to tell ourselves. Imagine picking your thoughts the same way you shop for groceries, randomly picking the first ones that grab your attention. We live in a bustling marketplace of words, where you spend time conversing not just with others, but also with yourself. We are inundated with messages. Messages from others, pop culture, the media, and … ourselves. Do you pick the words that jump right off the shelf, or are you mindful of the words you choose to listen to and the stories you tell yourself? This internal narrative shapes your beliefs, decisions, and ultimately, your performance.
Successful people don’t believe everything they think. Instead, they use positive self-talk as a tool to move them toward their goals and improve performance. Here are some ideas on how to use positive self-talk and mental training to improve your performance – in any area of life:
Moments of Reflection: Incorporate brief periods of introspection into your daily routine. These moments anchor you, grounding you and your purpose.
Banish the Thought Vampires: Beware of the lurking presence of thought vampires – those dark thoughts that suck the positivity from your consciousness. Replace their negativity with thoughts that lift and help your progress. You hold the reins of how you respond. It’s a choice to let something – or someone – bother you. Don’t give up this power for anything!
Clear Your Thought Stream: Think of mistakes as debris in a flowing stream, sometimes causing ripples or obstacles along your path. Instead of letting them dam your progress, acknowledge their presence. Learn from them and navigate your way around the debris, then let it flow away, clearing the path for smoother waters ahead.
Shift from Listening to Talking: The inner monologue, many times a relentless critic, can plant the seeds of self-doubt and erode your confidence. Rise above by transitioning from a passive listener to an active speaker. Engage in dialogue with yourself, steering the conversation toward affirmations and empowerment, controlling the narrative you choose with intentionality.
The stories we tell ourselves shape how we see the world. By speaking kindly to ourselves, we build a foundation for success and happiness. Feed yourself a diet of healthy words!
"The mind is everything. What you think, you become."
— Buddha
Connecting this quote to the story. Positive self-talk plays a crucial role in shaping one's beliefs and determining future actions and outcomes.
This week’s Chasing Influence tip: You become what you think of yourself.
If you enjoyed this story, a series of three Chasing Influence workbooks is available. Stories are accompanied by discussion questions and answers. Each workbook contains 33 lessons to use with any team.
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©Troy Urdahl, 2024