When the heart and the head disagree, the heart always wins.
You may not realize it, but you’re always talking to yourself. Sure, it’s not out loud, but your subconscious mind is continuously judging, commenting, feeling, and sharing thoughts with you without even recognizing it.
When you speak positively to yourself, your brain mirrors that optimism in your life.
Everything you accomplish and how successful you may or may not be in life is based on your thoughts and beliefs about yourself. These ideas are gathered and stored in your subconscious mind, either by you or by what other people tell you.
Today, we will look at the four levels of self-talk.
The four levels were created by Dr. Shad Helmsetter, the first behavioral researcher to focus on self-talk as a source that directs our life path and personal effectiveness.
“Talk to yourself like you would someone you love.”
– Brene Brown
Self-talk level 1 — You accept your negativity as truth.
Rather than disputing the self-talk at this level, you simply accept it and move on, figuring it is gospel and, as a result, there is nothing you can do. Level 1 is where most people begin and must work to reduce.
How?
Awareness. The key to modifying this initial level is to become conscious of the statements and words you use when talking to yourself and learn what you’re doing. Identify the negative mindset and ask yourself, “Why am I this way” Is it possible to improve? Examine the thought and try to figure out where it came from.
Self-talk level 2 — You know you should change, but you don’t.
Although it shows some signs of improvement, the second level of self-talk is equally as harmful as the first. In this scenario, you acknowledge that what you’re saying is damaging and needs to be altered, but you don’t take anything to fix it.
The solution to this level is simple, but it does require you to recognize the negative self-talk you’re giving yourself. Instead of just saying, “Oh, I should…” when you notice yourself uttering statements like these, make a plan to do what you’re saying you should do.
Self-talk level 3 — Breakthrough! Decide to change.
The third level of self-talk is the first one that has the potential to have significant benefits, and if you’ve reached this point, you’re already making progress.
You understand you have a problem with negativity at this point, and you start to make little changes. You might begin to use phrases like “I never” or “I no longer.” This could be anything, such as “I never eat junk food anymore” or “I no longer smoke.”
When you reach this point, you’re telling your brain that you don’t want to do something, and as a result, it listens and doesn’t put you in circumstances where your willpower might be tested. Remember that if you tell your brain something long and loudly enough, it will do exactly what you want. All it takes is a little patience and perseverance.
Self-talk level 4 — You become what you think.
When you reach the fourth level of self-talk, you’ll notice that your quality of life is improving, and you’ll be happier and healthier as a result. You know who you want to be and may guide yourself there with the things you say to yourself.
You utilize sentences like “I am” at this point. For example, you might tell yourself, “I am a winner,” “I am evolving,” or “I am successful,” and you’ll believe it because you’ve told yourself these things enough times that your brain has been reprogrammed from negative to positive.
Keep going!
Which stage are you at today?
Reply in the comments and let us know 🙂
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