#128 - A Powerful Exercise to Turn Negative Self Talk into Positive Self Talk
May 17, 2022
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Discover a powerful exercise to transform negative self-talk into positive self-talk. Learn about instructional and motivational self-talk and how they impact confidence and performance. Explore the effects of positive and negative self-talk on confidence. Get practical tips for transforming negative self-talk into positive self-talk.
Self-talk can greatly impact our confidence levels and perpetuating a cycle of self-doubt and unworthiness, but by practicing positive self-talk, we can shift towards a more empowering mindset.
An effective exercise to transform self-talk involves writing scripts as the inner critic and inner fan, bringing awareness to negative self-judgments and consciously choosing a more positive inner dialogue.
Deep dives
Importance of self-talk and its impact on confidence
In this podcast episode, the host discusses the power of self-talk and its profound influence on our confidence levels. He emphasizes that most of us tend to engage in negative self-talk, perpetuating a cycle of self-doubt and feelings of unworthiness. The host introduces an exercise to flip the script and turn our self-talk from negative to positive. He explains that self-talk can be categorized into instructional and motivational forms, with motivational self-talk being the focus of the exercise. The host also shares insights from a study showing that positive self-talk can act as a buffer against the detrimental effects of negative self-talk. He encourages listeners to become aware of their self-talk, challenge negative thoughts, and shift to a more positive and motivating inner dialogue.
The self-talk exercise: Writing the inner critic and inner fan scripts
In this episode, the host guides listeners through an exercise to transform their self-talk. The exercise involves writing two scripts: one as the inner critic and one as the inner fan. Firstly, the host instructs listeners to write down all the negative words, phrases, and self-criticisms they typically engage in. This exercise aims to make these negative thoughts and self-judgments visible and bring awareness to their impact. After completing the inner critic script, the host urges listeners to start fresh on a blank page and write as their biggest fan. This script should highlight positive attributes, achievements, and personal qualities. By creating these two scripts, individuals gain insight into their self-talk patterns and have the opportunity to consciously choose which script to read from, shifting towards a more positive and empowering mindset.
Using mantras to reinforce positive self-talk
In this episode, the host introduces the use of mantras as a tool to reinforce positive self-talk. Listeners are encouraged to extract meaningful phrases from their inner fan script and create mantras that resonate with them. These mantras can be written on post-it notes, recited during meditation, or repeated in moments when they need a mindset shift. The host highlights the importance of recognizing when negative self-talk arises and consciously choosing to shift to the positive script. By consistently practicing and embedding these mantras into daily routines, individuals can reshape their self-talk patterns and cultivate a more optimistic and empowering inner dialogue.
All athletes have an inner critic -- that little voice that sounds a lot like a critical parent or friend who wants the best for you. However, the inner critic can often bring more harm than good, particularly when it’s more toward the negative side. If you’re someone who consistently makes mean comments to yourself, this episode is for you. Lewis goes through a powerful exercise that will help you turn your negative self-talk into positive self-talk.
[02:30] Introduction
[04:28] Understanding Instructional and Motivational Self-talk
[07:30] Self-talk to Improve Your Confidence
[11:40] The First Step in The Self-Talk Exercise
[14:20] Self-Talk Exercise Step 2
[15:40] You Are What You Feed Your Subconscious Mind
