There are certain things we do (or should do) every day without thinking. We need to be brushing our teeth and drinking enough water. We ought to be eating healthy and remembering to exercise. If we’re really on task, we might also be doing something to expand our minds or work toward a specific goal.
Now consider this: of everything, what would you say the single most important thing you do is?
Chances are, you answered something to do with sleeping properly or taking care of your physical health. Believe it or not, there’s something even more critical, and it has to do with your self-talk.
Say something positive, and you’ll see something positive.Jim Thompson
Maintaining a positive inner dialogue, also known as positive self-talk, is the one thing that is going to motivate everything else you do. It’s when you’re positive that you put in the effort to take care of yourself. When you encourage yourself, those tremendously big goals (not to mention all the small ones) become possible. Think of positive self-talk as the gas, which makes the car move.
With so much riding on what you’re saying to yourself, how do you keep a positive attitude daily? Try following these five tips:
Know Your Triggers
Certain people, places, and situations are going to raise up an instant series of negative self-talk messages. Knowing what those are in advance helps you to defuse the situation before it gets out of hand. Ask yourself what you can do to avoid those triggers? What statements can you use to combat the messages which always come up when you’re triggered?
Do an Inventory
Periodically check your inner dialogue. Is it getting negative? Pay attention to the signs telling you things are going downhill. Being mindful helps you to insert positive dialogue cues as needed to keep things on an even keel.
Laugh
It’s impossible to stay negative when laughing. Looking for the humour in situations helps you to stay positive.
Hang with the Right Crowd
It’s easy to have your mood affected by those around you. By sticking around positive people, you’ll find upbeat energy tends to rub off.
Find Inspiration
Creating positive affirmations and daily repeating them starts the process of integrating specific thoughts into your dialogue. Keep these affirmations where you can see them. Leave notes to yourself inviting you to read those words again and again until they become part of who you are.
Engaging in daily positive self-talk is the one habit you want to spend time creating. There is no substitute for this kind of dialogue, which means you’re going to need to put in the effort until these actions become automatic.
When you reach that point, you’re going to see some real positive change.
