How to Change Your Self-talk by Mary Remon

My journey to understand the power of self-talk started a long time ago.

When I was five, my dad lost his job and began the long process of building his own business. Times were hard for a while.

Years later, I asked him how he had lived through that difficult period, and he replied,

“I kept telling myself, ‘I’m good at this. I’ll show clients how good I am.”

Self-affirmations

Chances are, you’ve talked to yourself at a difficult time. You may have said, “I can get through this,” or “I have what it takes to succeed,” or “I bring out strengths in my team.” If so, you’re using what psychologists call positive self-talk or self-affirmations.

Research shows that self-affirmations actually cause positive changes in the pathways of the brain, with a measurable reduction in stress levels. By replacing self-defeating thought patterns with constructive thoughts and beliefs, we can, in turn, change our lives.

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer

The Power of Self-talk or Self-affirmations

Today, we have new tools to amplify the power of affirmations.

One of the most effective ways to use positive self-talk is through an app I discovered called ThinkUp.

It’s a positive thinking app that allows you to record affirmations in your own voice and set them to music that is meaningful to you.

You can then listen to them regularly, especially at times when you may not have the strength to tell them to yourself.

My Top 5 Tips to Kick Your Self-affirmations Up a Notch

1. Jot down a short list of personal goals—for example, stop putting yourself down or start feeling more confident.
2. Word your affirmations in the present, as though you’re already there. For example, say, “I am confident.”
3. Say the words to yourself before you record your voice. If the words don’t feel right, change them until they do. For example, you might change “I am confident” to “I am becoming more confident every day.”
4. Record your affirmations, then listen to them as often as possible. By listening to your own voice, you can change your thought patterns.
5. Update your affirmations whenever it is helpful, to fit what you need at the moment.

There is nothing more powerful than hearing words of encouragement in your own voice. I tried it myself and experienced marked improvement in my overall well-being. I now use it as part of my counseling and executive life coaching practice and want to share it with everyone.

When used as part of life coaching or therapy, positive self-talk or self-affirmations can be life-altering. If you are in need of inspiration or guidance toward achieving your goals, leave a comment down below or get in touch with me (Sessions include customized affirmations!).

You can also download the ThinkUp app from the App Store or Google Play to get you started on some more general inspirations for positive self-talk.

About the Author

Mary Remon is a licensed private practice counselor and certified executive/ life coach with 20+ years’ experience helping people live happier, more productive lives.