I don't know about you, but I sometimes talk to myself. You may have heard that talking to yourself is okay—so long as you don't answer. However, I talk back at times as well. Most of us engage in self-talk from time to time. And depending on what we are saying to ourselves about ourselves, it can be a benefit or a detriment to the trajectory of our life.
There is a specific type of self-talk that can be helpful to us in our day-to-day lives and for our future. One group of successful people who model how to use positive self-talk are elite athletes. Regarding self-talk, I'm talking about an internal dialogue that propels such athletes to get up at 4:30 a.m. to practice their craft, or to take 100 more practice shots after everyone else has left to go home.
There are self-talk practices world-class athletes and top performers use that we can apply in our own lives. One such practice centers on the word "will." Will, in this case, is not necessarily dogged determination (although it can include that); instead, it’s when we claim the result we want to see in the present moment. For example, a world-class athlete will say, "I am winning" rather than "I will win." Or they will tell themselves, "I am determined" instead of "I will be determined." Instead of saying, "I will start tomorrow," they say, "I start." While there is a small difference in phraseology, there is a big difference in the outcome.
When we say, "I will be determined," we focus on a future event that may never come to fruition. We are setting ourselves up for a possible failure, as there is no guarantee that we will win. Moreover, when we use the word "I will be determined," we are not fully committing to the action we need to take to achieve the desired result.
On the other hand, when we use the word "I am determined" or " I start," we are committing to the action in the present moment. By saying, "I am winning" or "I start," we are taking ownership of our actions and directing our energy towards achieving the desired outcome—now. This gives us a sense of control over the situation and helps build our confidence and motivation, which can be instrumental in achieving our goals.
By using positive self-talk and focusing on the present moment, we can cultivate a more optimistic and proactive mindset, leading to more success in life. We can train our minds to focus on what we can do now rather than what we hope to achieve. And in doing so, we can create a more fulfilling and satisfying life.
Peace and Blessings,
James