Positive Self Talk

What Do You Say When You Talk to Yourself?

Positive Self Talk is the number ONE way to Self Improvement, with a minimum investment in time, and the convenience of always being available for you to utilize.


Negative Self Talk does nothing. That's it. Nothing. It doesn't make you feel good. It doesn't make you try harder. It doesn't motivate you. It doesn't make you do better next time. It probably reinforces negativity in you life even more.

Positive Self Talk makes you feel better. It releases the natural feel good chemical Serotonin into your blood stream. It Motivates you. It makes you work harder. It makes you Do better next time. It improves your performance in anything you are working on.
It gives you a positive outlook and improves your life satisfaction immensely.

How do we formulate Positive Self Talk Statement?

1.    Always make the statement in a Positive form.

Example: I always eat small portions of Healthy foods.
versus: I don't eat cake.

Try this... "Don't think about the Peach."

What are you thinking about?  ...  the Peach. Right?
        Your subconscious mind does not do negatives. Put all statement in positive terms.

2. Alway put statements in the first person.

Example: I will,  I am,  I do,  My life is,

3. Always in the present tense, as if the goal is already accomplished.

Example: I always eat healthy.  I sleep straight through the might.
I always make the hills on my bike.

"Try not. Do or do not, there is no try."

-- Yoda

Try means = NEVER

Avoid words: Try, would, Could, should, Not, don't.

For example while biking if I say, "I'm going to try to make that hill." Will I make the hill?
No, I will not. I'm only kidding myself. However, after much experimentation, if I tell myself, "I make all the hills. I aways make the hills." I do make the hill, every time.
In fact I have now added, "All hills are doable." A new experience for me.

If you want to super-charge your positive self talk add the word "Love" to your positive affirmation. For Instance: "I love hill climbing, I love the hills."  Even after 100 miles, 10,000 feet of climbing, and "the wall", I was still climbing very comfortably.
I love the hills.


Examples of Positive Self Talk:

Everyone wants to buy what I am selling today.
I always make this putt. I am a perfect putter, I make all my putts.
I weigh 125 lbs. I always eat small portions of healthy foods.
I am a great presenter. I enjoy presenting. I am calm and relaxed when I present.


How do we Change negative self talk into Positive Self Talk?

Pick out 2 to 4positive self talk statements that are your goals. Repeat them to yourself.
Notice negative self talk, change the statement 180 degrees and turn it into a positive statement. Repeat it 3 times either out loud or to yourself, whenever it occurs. The negative statement will go away, the positive statement will replace it. 

Best Times to Use Positive Self Talk:

Right before you fall asleep.
Right when you open your eyes in the morning.
This is the time when your sub conscious mind is most accessible, most open to suggestion.

Positive Self Talk

The easiest way to improve yourself and your life, as you live it.
Positive Self Talk is the most portable, easy to use, self improvement tool there is.
It is always with you wherever you go. You do not need to take even 20 minutes out of your day to use it. You can use it on the fly. You get the benefits and positive effects of it immediately with use. And you feel good while doing it.

Happy thoughts!  

Emotional Coping Strategies

Journaling – Write about your thoughts and feelings in a notebook. Retell your experience of what you thought, felt and experienced about an event in the greatest detail. Give yourself the permission to express your opinion without censoring or concerns about what others would think about what you’ve written. This notebook is for your eyes only and to share only if you wish to.

Letter Writing – Write a letter to someone with the intention that the letter will never be sent to them. This allows you to express your thoughts and feelings very truthfully as you are injuring no one with your candid expressions of how you feel and what you think.

Positive Affirmations / Positive Self Talk – Use positive statements of your goals and desires. Statements that are stated in the first person, and present time, in a positive manner. These statements are stated in such a way as if the goal is already accomplished.
(Examples: I am a Non-smoker; I eat healthy foods; I enjoy daily excercise; I am calm and relaxed).

Assertiveness – Practice stating how you feel about an event or interaction with another person. Use the formula: 1. Name the behavior. 2. State how that makes you feel. 3.State how you want their behavior to change. (Example: When you speak to me in that tone of voice, it makes me feel angry and defensive. Please use a calm tone of voice when you need to tell me how to do something).

Take Time – Take time to respond to an emotional situation. You do not have to respond to situations immediately. Taking time gives you a chance to sort out your feelings and make a choice about how you respond and what you choose to say to someone. Even if it takes a month or a year to sort out your feelings regarding an incident. It is never to late to return to the subject and process it, telling someone how you feel about it and the effect it had on you.


Amelia Hasenohrl, LPC, CHt. August 26, 2009
Licensed Professional Counselor