Self Talk First Aid

I attended a training programme "Self-Talk First Aid Kit" a few weeks ago. The learning helps me quite often to overcome negative self-talk. Here is a synopsis of what I learned:

We often experience challenging and de-motivating events and during these difficult times we tend to slip into negative self-talk patterns. Here are few Self-Talk First Aid Kit strategies that can be used in a pinch, in real time, on the job, to help you overcome negative self-talk.

Prior to list down those strategies, I would like to put few prerequisites as below:

First take yourself off and eliminate trash talking

• Secondly believe you can change your self-talk
  
• Thirdly, choose the specific strategies from following which works for you and that you are comfortable with
• Lastly, remember that changing your self-talk is not an overnight affair

Self-Talk First Aid Kit: here are six quick "catching yourself" tips to adjust your self-talk in the moment.

Switching Channels

Switch channels when you find yourself focusing too much on the negative. Imagine your mind as a TV set and choose a focus on a more self-supporting, self-motivating, constructive channel.  Remember, your mood focus is a personal choice.

Re-framing

Take the definition of a particular situation and re-frame it with another meaning such that it is useful to you, motivates you and that works for you instead of against you. You must focus on your potential and the positives that motivate you.

Jumping to Conclusions

Jumping to conclusions is a subset of unrealistic thinking. We tend to make a mountain out of a molehill without checking or realizing all the facts which usually cause a sticky situation. If you had all the facts, you might find out that your anger is out of proportion to the situation or not needed in the situation at all. Slow down and check out the facts.

Fire Your Critical Parent

Your critical parent is the voice in your mind that puts you down. You must avoid beating yourself up, threatening and name-calling. Remember, you do have an inner child inside of yourself that is vulnerable and a fragile part of yourself, you just gotta find that kinder and gentler parent inside of yourself.

Stay In the Present

Stay in the present when you find you stuck obsessing about the past or worrying about the future, stay focus and be self-motivated. Catch yourself and switch channels to the present because that is where performance excels. Remember, peak performance occurs in the present, neither in the future nor in the past. You must be aware of the present and believe you can change it as and when required.

Keep Perspective

You can keep perspective through Balanced Life, Remembering your blessings, A sense of purpose and A sense of humor.

Balanced Life: always remember the importance of friends, family and community.

Remember your blessings: Remembering your blessings like your health, a great job and your family can serve as an instant antidote to a negative focus.

Sense of purpose: When you’re de-motivated, off track, off course or feeling down, you can snap back by remembering your sense of purpose—your vision, your life meaning.

Sense of humor: Laughter enhances the immune system and increases motivation, productivity and performance. Maintain a healthy sense of humor.