Controlling Your self-Talk

Float like a butterfly, Sting like a bee

Whenever you think of changing your self image, I want you to picture yourself fishing off the stern of a boat that´s heading north. You´re not catching any fish, so you decide to change the boat´s direction. You walk forward, grab the steering wheel and turn the boat to the east. Then you let go of the wheel and head back to the stern, As you do, the boat starts swinging back to the north on its own. Why..? Because you forgot to adjust the automatic pilot system. You only tried to override it.

You can temporarily act brave if you´re scared, you can temporarily act outgoing if you´re shy, you can temporarily act calm if you´re mad. You can override your automatic pilot system at any time. But if you haven´t changed your picture, the moment you let go of the steering wheel, the automatic pilot will kick in and draw you back again. If you see yourself as a smoker, you can hang on temporarily and act like a nonsmoker. But the moment the stress hits, you´ll let go of the steering wheel and back you´ll go. If you see yourself as a overweight, you can temporarily stick to a diet. But you´re consciously hanging onto the steering wheel, and you feel the strain. The moment you let go. See..?

If that is so, then change will be rather difficult, right..? Perhaps. But did you know that you can turn the boat to the east without ever touching the steering wheel..? Just change the automatic pilot system, and the boat will automatically go east. The automatic pilot of course, is your self image. It determines the direction toward which you´ll lean east or north, positive or negative. So, how do you change your self image..? By controlling and changing your self talk. That´s what built it in the first place.

One key will be your conscious use of these two phrases, ..ººThat´s like me..ºº and ººThat´s not like me..ºº Remember you affirm beliefs with own self talk. Once you get the belief imprinted in your subconscious, you act like it. And you reinforce the belief by reviewing it vividly in your imagination. ººI´m good at this..ºº ººI´m terrible at that..ºº You even manipulate your senses and lock things out to reinforce ººThe truth..ºº So you need to consciously build your ººThat´s like me..ºº and ººThat´s not like me..ºº beliefs. If you believe you´re the best teacher among your peers, and you win an ººExcellence in Teaching Award..ºº you´re self talk should be, ººWell, that´s like me. I deserve it.ºº On the other hand, if you believe you´re an excellent stage performer, and you forget your lines one night, your self talk should be, ººThat´s not like me. I remember my lines..ºº But using these two statements, you constantly affirm the future positively, and not the past negatively. So, wether you´ve done well at something or not, you´re adding positive weights to your attitudinal balance scale. And as you add to, and update, the positive ººtruth..ºº about yourself, you will change the direction in which you lean, and start using your full potential.