Never Stop Believing in Yourself.

‘Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.’ – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Believing in oneself, especially when one’s back seems to be against the wall and things are going the way you plan, is one of the most important skills for getting things done. It is easy to be upbeat when everything seems to go your way. The real test comes when the chips are down, the tides seem to be against you, and whatever can go wrong is going wrong simultaneously. Believing in yourself in these critical times is a testament to one’s true character. It is tough to keep pushing during this trying time, but you must keep believing. Never say never; keep showing up daily, putting your best foot forward, and you will crack the code eventually. “Good better best never let it rest until good is better and better is best.”

In his book, What to Say When You Talk to Your Self, psychologist and author Dr. Shad Helmstetter talked about the power of self-talk, the subconscious mind and how reprogramming our self-limiting beliefs can lead to breakthroughs and personal transformation. He writes:

The Subconscious Mind

The subconscious mind does not see the difference between the statement that we are clumsy and the statement that we are graceful, well-coordinated, and in control. It does not know the difference between being told that we are poor, and the statement that we are wealthy. It accepts our programming just as we give it.

Our internal programming mechanism treats anything we tell it with equal indifference. As a result, when we casually state, “No matter what I do, I just can’t seem to make enough money to make ends meet,” our subconscious mind says, “Okay, I’ll do what you’re telling me to do. I’ll make sure you can’t make ends meet.” In turn, it will unleash its powerful control over our mental and physical selves to achieve the result it was told to accomplish.

The 5 Levels of Self-Talk

Self-Talk is a way to override our past negative programming by erasing or replacing it with conscious, positive new directions. Self-Talk is a practical way to live our lives by active intent rather than by passive acceptance.

LEVEL 1 SELF-TALK— The Level of Negative Acceptance (“I can’t…”)

The five levels of self-talk start at the lowest, least beneficial level. At the bottom of the list—and the most harmful self-talk we can use—is Level 1, the level of Negative Acceptance. That is self-talk by which you say something bad or negative about yourself, and you accept it.

This level is easy to spot. It is most always characterized by the words, “I can’t…” or “if only I could…” or “I wish I could, but I can’t…” and so on. All Level 1 self-talk works against us. And unfortunately, it is the most frequently used self-talk of all!

LEVEL 2 SELF-TALK— The Level Of Recognition and Need To Change (“I need to… I should…”)

This level is beguiling. On the surface it looks as though it should work for us. But instead, it works against us! In this level of self-talk we are stating to ourselves and to others our recognition of our need to change.

Level 2 self-talk is characterized by words such as, “I need to…”, or “I ought to…”, or “I should…” Why does that work against us? Because it recognizes a problem, but creates no solution. When you say to yourself (or to someone else), “I really need to get more organized,” what are you really saying? You are saying, “I really need to get more organized…but I’m not!

LEVEL 3 SELF-TALK— The Level of Decision to Change (“I never…I no longer…”)

Level 3 Self-Talk is the first level of Self-Talk that works for you instead of against you. In this level you recognize the need to change, but also you make the decision to do something about it—and you state the decision in the “present tense”—as though the change has already taken place.

Level 3 is characterized by the words, “I never,” or “I no longer.” In this level you say, “I no longer have a problem dealing with people at work.” “I never eat more than I should.” “I never get upset in traffic.” “I no longer put off doing anything I want to get done.

LEVEL 4 SELF-TALK— The Level of The Better You (“I am”)

This is the most effective kind of Self-Talk we can ever use. In our Self-Talk vocabularies, Level 4 is the kind of Self-Talk that has been used the least and is needed most. It is at this level that you are painting a fully completed new picture of yourself, the way you really wanted to be, handing it to your subconscious, and saying, “This is the “me” I want you to create! Forget all that bad programming I gave you in the past. This is your new program. Now let’s get to work at it!”

Level 4 Self-Talk is characterized by the words, “I am…” “I am organized and in control of my life. I am a winner! I am healthy, energetic, enthusiastic, and I’m going for it! Nothing can stop me now. I like who I am. I am in tune, on top, and in touch. I have determination, drive, and self-belief. I am living the life I choose, and I choose what’s right!

LEVEL 5 SELF-TALK— The Level of Universal Affirmation (“It is…”)

Often referred to just as “affirmations,” this level of Self-Talk has been used for many years. It is Self-Talk that often speaks of a higher level of spirit, or consciousness, than we might typically think about when we’re dealing with the demands of our day-to-day life.

Level 5 Self-Talk may sound something like this: “I am one with the true, healthy, qualities of my life, and they are one with me. Life, to me, is a place of joy…serenity…peace…and healthy well-being.

We are most comfortable with the thoughts we have lived with the most. It makes no difference if those thoughts aren’t the best for us—it’s what we know; it’s what we are most secure in keeping at our side.

Meditations

Daily Calm with Tamara Levitt

Give space to all that arises without resisting your experience. Allow everything to flow through you. Mindfulness teaches us to accept all emotions and to understand that nothing is permanent. It teaches us to approach life with acceptance, recognizing that all things eventually pass. Like the sandcastle, nothing in this life remains the same. The season changes, our body ages, our relationships end. We can either resist change or surrender to it. The more we practice surrender and are open to change, the more easily we flow from one situation to the next.

“I give you this to take with you: Nothing remains as it was. If you know this, you can begin again, with pure joy in the uprooting.” – Judith Minty

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Daily Trip with Jeff Warren – Quiet Dignity

Self respect is a kind of blueprint for respecting others.

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