“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right,” Henry Ford. The power of
thought is probably the single greatest influence you have in life. Especially when applied to what you think about yourself.
You are always telling yourself what you believe about yourself. Pause and listen to what you say as events unfold in your life. Do you hear a critical voice saying how you failed and asking why you even bother to try? Or do you hear a voice saying you are doing wonderful things? The great news is you have the power to set that narrative to choose the words that you play back as your life unfolds.
Unfortunately, often the idea of positive self-talk is mocked in popular culture. Like the Saturday Night Live skit Stuart Smalley’s, “I do enough, I am smart enough, and gosh darn it people like me.” While funny the skit also mocks the importance of positive self-talk. Yet, it falls short because it demonstrates trying to manufacture belief without a foundation of action and accomplishments.
Build your own self-talk based on the successes you have had. Review your statement and rewrite it as you stack wins.
“I show my wife I love her by doing the dishes. I love my son by pursuing him. My family loves me.” - Aaron Jones