Some people believe that talking to yourself is a sign of mental illnesses like depression, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Others believe that self-talk (i.e., positive dialogue you have with yourself throughout the day) leads to constructive thinking and better mental health.
Here’s how it works, easy as A-B-C:
- Begin your day with positive affirmations (e.g., “I am a wonderful person.” “I am grateful for the people and things in my life.” “I can accomplish what I set my mind to do.” “I can handle whatever comes my way.” “I believe in myself.” “Today is a new day.”). Rehearsing positive statements in the morning can set you up for having a constructive outlook for the rest of the day.
- Check in with yourself throughout the day. Use self-talk journal entries and/or “note-to-self” records to focus on the positive parts of your life. Continuously monitor your progress and make changes as needed to achieve positive outcomes.
- End your day with positive affirmations (e.g., “I am a wonderful person.” “I believe in myself.”… “Tomorrow is a new day.”). Replaying positive statements in the evening can set you up for having a constructive outlook for the next day.
Self-talk doesn’t always have to be ambitious or self-improving in nature. For example, you might already consider yourself a successful person, but that doesn’t mean you can’t consistently use reaffirming self-talk, like “I am successful” to remind yourself to keep your success-train on track. After all, that’s what coaching is all about in the first place — maintaining a constant and never-ending dedication to keep growing and getting better every day. Development is not a one-and-done game; it’s a one-on-one game with yourself that never ends. Keep affirming your greatness. Keep actively monitoring what and how you are doing. Keep talking to yourself until you get the results you want…or make a change and keep talking.