LANGUAGE
Some may say that if you talk to yourself it may be a sign of madness! But what if I was to tell you that the language that you use is SO important that it can be detrimental to your health and crucial to happiness?
Language is such an important part of our lives, and I am not talking about foreign languages here, I am talking about the language we speak to ourselves. The language you use to yourself influences everything you do, from changing negative or self-sabotaging behaviours to reinforcing them.
When we engage in negative self-talk, it impacts our thinking, and these negative thoughts create feelings of anger, irritation, frustration, hopelessness and disappointment.
I wonder how many times a day you are reinforcing beliefs and behaviours that you are otherwise trying to change or eradicate?
So I have a little exercise for you to do, let’s see where your self-talk is at!
Sit down quietly, write down the behaviour or belief you want to change. Then make two columns. In the first column you will list what language you are using currently – i.e., I can’t do it, I don’t have enough training, who am I to think I can have that? In the second column list the affirmative and opposite of this result language, i.e., I am enough, I can have anything I want, I am worthy, I can learn anything I desire. Etc.
You get the picture. Then repeat these affirmative language phrases daily, if you catch yourself slipping back to old negative thinking, quickly re-affirm with your affirmative language. We all know that to train a dog, you need to do some repetitive training and use affirmative language so that the dog knows it has pleased you. Well, you need to use the same tactics with yourself.
According to a study done back in 2012 at the University of Lethbridge positive self-talk can have some startling results. The aim of this study was to teach grade one students how to rethink their negative self-talk and turn it into positive self-talk. The students engaged in a year-long series of lessons about self-talk and learned how to identify specific negative and positive words and affirmations. This study revealed that the new strategies learned impacted the students’ abilities to rethink negative statements to positive statements successfully and to consider the value of doing so in their lives. (https://www.uleth.ca/dspace/handle/10133/3202?show=full)
You change the way you think with processes and exercises like the one above. You may have been taught and conditioned to think a certain way, but the good news is the brain is “plastic”.
We now have science confirming that the brain is malleable and able to be changed, moulded if you like, into a happier version of you. The real and authentic you, unencumbered by conditioning or negativity. It is fascinating stuff; it’s the kind that makes me love what I do! The lightning bolt moment when someone realises what drives them, what blocks them and how it can be released and transformed positively is beyond words.
If you would like to make a session time to help change your language, be sure to get in touch here: https://www.savvybariatrics.com/book-an-appointment/