Do you have negative beliefs about yourself? Statements you tell yourself before you try something new and potentially rewarding?These negative self-talk scripts are convenient excuses to avoid change. They serve as limiting beliefs, naysayers in our heads – mental myths.
Sometimes we don’t even realize the influence they have on our mindset and decisions.
You may be quick to say to yourself, “I’m shy, introverted, and socially awkward. There’s no way I’ll ever speak in front of a crowd.”
But because of this, opportunities can pass you by. And it is up to you to flip this script around to destroy the negative thoughts, turning them into positive self-talk script.
Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus, who believed in self-responsibility and self-discipline, was an early proponent of positive self-talk:
“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”
Think about your limiting beliefs and how you can flip them around to become positive self-talk scripts. Smash through your mental myths and use these positive scripts to guide your behavior.
Then, talk in the second-person (“you”) instead of the first-person (“I”). Psychologists in this study found that – counter-intuitively – using the second-person increases your chances of success.
To inspire you, here are 10 positive self-talk scripts from successful people.
1. “You are enough.”
Before going on stage, actress and singer Demi Lovato tells herself: “I am enough.”
She uses this to silence her limiting beliefs about both her achievements and her body image. For Lovato:
“‘I am enough’ means being comfortable with your body, with what you have achieved — and with what you haven’t. It means accepting who you are without caveats. It means rising to the bar you’ve set for yourself instead of conforming to the outlandish expectations of others. It translates to a confession of self-acceptance, and it’s something we could all stand to say to ourselves more often.”
2. “You make it happen.”
Aarthi Ramamurthy, founder of Lumoid, borrows this self-talk script from a Michael Jordan quote: “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”
It’s simple as that. Tell yourself to go out and take action.
3. “You give of your talents freely, and you are wonderfully blessed financially.”
This script is from the classic book The Power of the Subconcious Mind by Dr.Joseph Murphy.
The idea is to assume that success is inevitable, especially if you constantly help others using your talents. Wealth is a by-product of your effort to provide value in the world.
4. “You are possible.”
Actress Audrey Hepburn was quoted as saying, “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’!”
Except where it violates the laws of physics, anything is often possible. But most people wait until they’re “ready”.
Instead, tell yourself “You are possible” and take the first step. Then the second. Don’t let perfection paralyze you. Just put one foot in front of the other and you’ll achieve success.
What other negative beliefs can you flip around just by re-arranging letters? How about this: instead of “No Way”, say “Now, ay!”
5. “Stay focused. Stay positive. Keep your chin up and your feet on the ground.”
Amy Sacco, founder and partner of the Bungalow 8 nightclub chain in New York City and London, tells herself this script every day while blasting her favorite songs.
Borrow this idea yourself and take your self-talk to a new level by playing the high-energy tunes you love while verbalizing the script out loud.
6. “Trust yourself and your gut rather than conventional wisdom.”
This script by Linda Boff, an executive director at GE, reminds you to be skeptical of the experts, to test everything, and base your decision on what you think will work for you.
Like Amy, Linda also accompanies her self-talk with music:
“I love the theatre and often have a song going through my head. One that I frequently turn to in the morning as a motivator is the song ‘Defying Gravity,’ from ‘Wicked.’ It always picks me up and reminds me to trust myself and my gut rather than conventional wisdom.”
7. “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”
Steve Jobs delivered this line during a commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005. He said that he was inspired by the final issue of The Whole Earth Catalog magazine:
“It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.
And I have always wished that for myself.
And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.”
This script reminds you to keep pushing while being open to new ideas and opportunities.
8. “Failure is your stepping stone to greatness.”
This is a modified version of a quote by the super-successful Oprah Winfrey, who is no stranger to ups and downs in her life.
Obstacles and adversity are your best path to success and greatness, according to The Obstacle Is the Way. Only by trying and failing repeatedly and relentlessly will you develop a growth mindset, rather than a fixed one.
9. “You are the greatest.”
Muhammad Ali said, “I figured that if I said it enough, I would convince the world that I really was the greatest.”
Tell yourself you are the best at what you do, and let that inspire you to take action to get there.
10. “What good shall I do this day?”
Benjamin Franklin asked himself this question first thing every morning.
The message is to first think about doing good. If you can solve other people’s problems, they will value you. This is a win-win mentality that accelerates success for you and everyone you interact with.
What do you think of these “flip it around” self-talk scripts? Comment below and click “Share” to inspire your friends!
Featured photo credit: Ashley Campbell via flickr.com
