In this article, we’ll be discussing 5 Habits to Improve Positive Self-Talk.  Before we begin, let’s take a closer look at what self-talk is, and how it affects us.

In the Native American parable, a Cherokee Brave simply describes the battle that goes on inside him.  The story is about two wolves fighting with each other; one good and one bad.

“ONE EVENING, AN ELDERLY
CHEROKEE BRAVE TOLD HIS
GRANDSON ABOUT A BATTLE THAT
GOES ON INSIDE PEOPLE.

HE SAID “MY SON, THE BATTLE IS
BETWEEN TWO ‘WOLVES’ INSIDE US ALL.
ONE IS EVIL. IT IS ANGER,
ENVY, JEALOUSY, SORROW,
REGRET, GREED, ARROGANCE,
SELF-PITY, GUILT, RESENTMENT,
INFERIORITY, LIES, FALSE PRIDE,
SUPERIORITY, AND EGO.

THE OTHER IS GOOD.
IT IS JOY, PEACE LOVE, HOPE SERENITY,
HUMILITY, KINDNESS, BENEVOLENCE,
EMPATHY, GENEROSITY,
TRUTH, COMPASSION AND FAITH.”

THE GRANDSON THOUGH ABOUT
IT FOR A MINUTE AND THEN ASKED
HIS GRANDFATHER:

“WHICH WOLF WINS?…”

THE OLD CHEROKEE SIMPLY REPLIED,
“THE ONE THAT YOU FEED””

When we talk bad to ourselves, we are feeding the ‘bad wolf’ inside of us.  And when we choose to feed the bad wolf, we are actually encouraging others to see our bad side.  In general terms, what we think is what we get.  The world is like a mirror.

Talking negatively to ourselves can be very destructive.  Not only does it attract more negative things to happen to you, but it also doesn’t feel very good.  Practicing positive self-talk is a great way to boost your self-worth, and attract more wonderful things into your life.  And another positive side effect to positive self-talk is feeling great about yourself, increasing confidence and self-asteem .  This can help you to turn any negative situation into a positive one.

Ahead you will learn 5 Habits to Improve Positive Self-Talk.  You can start implementing these daily inner dialog habits into your life today, no matter what your circumstances.  Get ready to become your greatest cheerleader!

A simple and powerful way to get you talking positively to yourself is to practice gratitude.  Thinking of things you are grateful for gets you focusing on the positive.  It is impossible to be thinking of things you are grateful for and feel negatively about it!

Taking a few minutes of your day to focus on gratitude can instantly get you in a positive mental state.  From this positive mental state, you can begin to talk to yourself more positively with the following habits.

Positive self-affirmations can be so powerful!  By talking to yourself in an affirmative way, you are consciously, and unconsciously programing your brain to to think positively about yourself.  A positive self-affirmation is a short, but empowering sentence you can say to yourself.

To help you come up with your own positive self-affirmations, answer the following questions:

1. What qualities do you admire about yourself?
2. What qualities would you like to attain?
3. How do you want others to see you?

Your answers to these questions can be turned into your personal self-affirmations.

For example, if you answered the first question with things like, “I admire my honesty, focus, and compassion.”, you could create three positive self-affirmations from that answer.  These affirmation could be something like, “I am honest.  I am focused.  I am compassionate.”.

If, for example, you were to answer the second question with something like, “I want to be more confident and I want to become a better listener.”, you could turn that into, “I am confident.  I am a good listener.”.

By acknowledging yourself for the things you admire, you are affirming these beliefs about yourself.  This not only feels empowering to do, but others will also start to see these things about you too.  And by turning an, ‘I want’, statement into an affirmation, you are programming your brain to believe these things about yourself.  And no, you are not “tricking” your brain into thinking you are something that you’re not, you are simply unlocking a part of you that already exists within you.  You are an unlimited being after all!

Did you know that you can get more enjoyment, fulfillment and excitement out of life just by changing a few words you use?

In Tony Robbin’s book, Awaken the Giant Within, Tony explains in depth how your words can put you into a more positive emotional state.  Exchanging mediocre words we use every day to more exuberant words can also help you start talking more positively to yourself.

In this condensed list of examples from Awaken the Giant Within, you can start to change your inner and outer dialog right now.

If you want to get maximum benefit out of changing your inner dialog, consider trying this simple challenge.  From the lists of words above, choose one alternatively empowering word from each list.  Write these three words on sticky notes or a notepad, and hang them somewhere you will see them often.  By exchanging just three words in your daily dialog, you can completely transform how you feel about situations.  And the great thing is, these new empowering alternatives to regular words are going to affect your inner dialog too.  It’s another great way to get you positively talking to yourself (and others)!

People are constantly asking themselves questions, but often times these questions are incredibly disempowering.  But the good news is, you can start to ask yourself better questions, and therefor get better answers.  Answers that empower you!

Some questions you may stumble upon in your self-talk could be things like…

1. “What’s wrong?”
2. “Why am I like this?”
3. “Why doesn’t anyone like me?”
4. “Why does this keep happening to me?”
5. “Why would they do that?”
6. “How come I’m not successful?”

Have you ever asked yourself any of these?  Most people have.  In fact, when faced with challenges, these are often the first questions that pop into our minds.  The thing is, all these questions are just asking for disempowering answers.  And disempowering answers lead to more negative self-talk.

To turn these questions around, try asking yourself some of these positive alternatives.

1. “What’s good about this situation?”
2. “What value do I bring by being like this?”
3. “What do I admire about myself?”
4. “What’s great about this problem?”
5. “How can I move forward?”
6. “What do I need to look at to become more successful?” or “What was I successful at today?”

A personal favorite question:

-“What’s not perfect yet?”

Your answers to these questions are bound to be more positive.  And by asking yourself positive questions, you are setting yourself up to have more positive self-talk.

The best way to start the day is to ask yourself some exciting questions.  Starting off the day by asking yourself some exciting questions can set the tone for the rest of your day.  Plus, who doesn’t love getting excited to jump out of bed in the morning?  These questions can give your morning a boost of enthusiastic energy!

1. “What am I excited about in my life right now?”
2. “What could I be excited about in my life right now?”
3. “What do I want to learn today?”

Hopefully your answers to these questions add a little enthusiasm to your day.

One of my favorite recent discoveries was Byron Kate’s four questions.  These four questions are incredibly versatile, and can be used to turn almost any situation around.  They have the power to help you see any situation a little bit differently, and therefore turn that negative self-talk into something positive!  Ask yourself these questions any time you are feeling like you’re stuck in a negative trance.

Here are the four questions:

1.  “Is it true?” (if so, move to question 3)
2. “Can you absolutely know that it’s true?”
3. “How do you react when you have that thought?”
4. “Who would you be without that thought?”

How powerful!

Metaphors can create so much lightness in our lives.  Changing some negative metaphors for positive ones can drastically change your outlook on life, and your self-talk.

Let’s take a look at some inspiring metaphors you can include in your daily life.

1. Life is like a movie.
2. Life is like a game.
3. Life is like a dance.
4. “Life is like painting a picture, not doing a sum.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Comparing life to lighthearted things is a simple way to incorporate positive metaphors into your self-talk.  Feel free to create your very own inspiring metaphor.

Coming up with your own life philosophies can be such a fun task.  Life philosophies can become little things you live by.  Even if you seldom share what your personal life philosophy is, it’s still incredibly powerful in shaping your positive self-talk.  These are little statements you think about life.

Here are a few examples of what a Life Philosophy might look like.  Again, feel free to create your very own, personal philosophy.

1. “Every day another little piece of your life is revealed.”
2. “Every decision you’ve ever made has led you to this moment.”
3. “I am what I attract, and I have the power to change that in an instant.”
4. “There’s no such thing as failures, only opportunities to learn.”
5. “Challenges are opportunities to grow.”
6. “Yesterday’s struggles will become tomorrow’s easy work.”

As you can see, adopting such life metaphors can be very inspiring.  If you choose to think of life in these enchanting ways, your self-talk is bound to become more positive.  Some of these philosophies are too empowering to feel negatively about!

By implementing these 5 Habits for Positive Self-Talk, you have the power to become your greatest ally.  What you think really does affect your reality.  Talking positively to yourself can be one of your greatest assets.

As a quick review, here are the 5 habits:

1. Gratitude

2. Positive Self-Affirmations

3. Empowering Words

4. Ask Yourself Empowering Questions

5. Inspiring Metaphors and Philosophies