Stop Listening. Start Talking.
We’ve heard the phrase… “There is a reason you have two ears and one mouth.” My grandma used to say, “Brucie, I’m going to box your ears if you don’t listen.”
But when it comes to self-talk, you need to do more talking. When you listen to your thoughts, you sometimes hear negativity and doubt - Why are you here? Do I really belong? Who’s going to want to read this? etc…
In his book Living with the Monks, author Jesse Itzler talks about “Billy the Bully” and how he always seems to show up in your head when you need some discouragement, or Zig Ziglar used to call it, “Stinking Thinking.”
Years ago, my family went snow skiing in Winter Park, Colorado. The last time I went snow skiing was when I was in college. I loved it. Years later, I was back on the slopes. When you snow ski, there are different trails to choose from: green for novice or easy, blue for intermediate and slightly difficult, and black, which includes super steep hills and moguls that make it difficult.
Most of the day, we decided to stay on the green trails. However, my son-in-law Chase is a very good skier and liked to explore other trails, and he asked if I wanted to join him on some blues. I followed him as we went faster down steeper hills and slopes.
Then there was a moment when he said, “Hey, let’s go to the top.” I hesitated, as I knew I was not as advanced at skiing as he was, but I decided to go. When we got to the top, I was immediately regretting my decision as I looked over the mountain, and it was very steep to get down.
Immediately, I thought, I am in trouble here, but the only way down was to ski. As I began, I thought, I need to go back and forth slowly and don’t be in a hurry. So, there I was, back and forth, gliding, nice and easy. Then my ski turned down on one of the turns, and I accelerated, picking up steam, and thought, I need to stop before I fall and roll down the mountain. So, I slid as if I were sliding into second base and leaned over to stop. Whew!!
There I started to listen… to my negative thoughts, oh no, how am I going to get down the mountain? It’s too steep. You can’t do this. Why did I put myself in this position?
I sat in the snow and realized nothing is going to happen unless I get up and start moving. So, I got up and stopped listening… and started talking. “Bruce, you can do this. One step at a time. You were born for this day. You can do this. You got this. Bruce, take it slow and you will make it… This is a defining moment.
And just like that, I slowly made it down the mountain…
You see, too many times we listen to our negative thoughts instead of talking to ourselves with positivity. Self-talk is powerful, in a negative way or in a positive way, you just need to decide what you want to hear.
So, I challenge you today to look in the mirror and say, it’s going to be a great day, or I am going to crush this presentation, or do what Mel Robbins shares in her book, The 5 Second Rule… Wake up, look in the mirror and give yourself a high five to start the day!
Quote of the Day
“Day One or One Day... You decide!”
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