What we tell ourselves will manifest in the way we act towards our goals.
What determines your success? Is it the way you look or the way you talk? Is it how you present yourself to other people?
Or maybe, success is determined by the way you think and talk about yourself.
When you walk the talk
Mere utterances of, “You can make it. You are strong enough,” can encourage positive thinking and conditioning evidenced by a person’s oozing confidence and determination to reach the finish line or achieve a goal.
The point is: you are your own motivator. You can talk your way through anything if you believe in what you say and act accordingly.
How does one talk to oneself?
You can do it in two ways:
- Loudly
- Mentally
No matter how you choose to talk to yourself, you will get results either favorably or unfavorably or sometimes, none at all.
According to studies, talking to oneself is a way to boost self-esteem, manage emotions, and enhance overall performance and well-being. Nonetheless, the most important part of talking to oneself is how you do it and the kinds of words you use.
For now, we focus on positive self-talk. That being said, here are some ways on how you can talk your way through success.
Technique #1: Make it a habit to think only positive thoughts.
Mind-body connection assumes that the mind has a significant effect on the body. Therefore, if people would allow negative thoughts to run over their minds, then the body will react to it in a negative manner as well. For one to become successful, positive thoughts must be regularly cultivated.
Technique #2: Firmly say, “No!” to negative thoughts.
Pessimism is a natural thing. However, if you allow this to be part of your system and not find ways to get rid of it, pessimism may be detrimental to your success. So, whenever you feel like a negative thought is creeping over your self-confidence, immediately seize it with an unyielding, “No!” By doing so, you are training your mind to constantly ward off bad thoughts and only welcome positive ones. “A good way to keep from destroying your self-esteem is by keeping negative self-talk in check. Catch yourself before you go spiraling down the hole of negative thought.” You’ll notice a big difference.” says licensed psychologist Cindy T. Graham, PhD
Technique #3: Convert negative to positive.
Turn those “cannot” statements into “can” statements. If there are tasks that seem so arduous, always remind yourself that you can conquer it and impossibility can be outsmarted. Though there might be situations that just cannot be shunned at all. That’s the time that you can compromise. But remember, with every downside is an upside. You just need to find a way through or around it.
Technique #4: Failure is a strength.
Do not be afraid to fail. Failure is part of success. Failure teaches people valuable lessons that success cannot. “People with a healthy self-esteem tend to view failure as an event. People with low self-esteem often view failure as fatal. This thought process pummels one’s self-esteem and overtime being a failure becomes their identity.” counselor Monte Drenner explains. Significant personalities have experienced immeasurable failures before they reached their point of success. If JK Rowling backed out after all the setbacks she experienced and after being turned down by 12 publishing entities, Harry Potter would’ve not been immortalized. Use your failures as your strength; carry them as your battle scars.
Technique #5: Note down your competencies.
Aside from training yourself to diverting your thoughts to only positive statements, you also have to focus your mind on what makes you stand out. Count your strong attributes and not your weak ones. Once you have identified all these characteristics, you’ll be able to remind yourself that you possess them during complicated times and will increase your self-confidence ten folds. Aside from your goodness, also consider those moments wherein you surpassed difficulties.
Leaving a positive note
Remember that the steps toward success must be trodden accurately and carefully. Jo Eckler, PsyD once said, “Look at negative thoughts like reruns of a TV show you’ve seen a million times. Let them play in the background while you shift your focus to something else.” Unless you are the heir of a multi-billion dollar company, there will be no shortcuts. Even heirs are trained to start at the beginning to understand and appreciate the true meaning of success.
Believing in yourself and in the skills that you possess can take you far. Carry your errors and downfalls as your armor and shield. Do not lose focus. Always visualize your success as you take a step further.
Eyes on the prize!