Time to start talking to yourself

One of my favorite quotes is from Tom Landry, who said, "The job of a football coach is to make men do what they don't want to do, so they can achieve what they have always wanted to be."

If the workout that really works is not going to be fun, I was going to have to take the Tom Landry approach to every workout session. Meaning I was going to have to make myself do it precisely because I didn't want to do it.

That brings me to a very important and critical principle. If you want to be successful at anything you are going to have to learn to talk to yourself. People forget that we are both physical and spiritual beings. One of the most important things about humans, that separate us from the animals, is that we have a relationship with ourselves.

When it comes to changing our habits and our lifestyle, we must talk to ourselves. Typically, we don't talk to ourselves, we listen to ourselves. Most people would say if someone talks to themselves they're crazy. But for anyone who wants to be successful, it's absolutely essential that they talk to themselves. 

The advice of our day? Listen to yourself. Get in touch with your inner feelings. I'm telling you that is the last thing in the world you should do! If I listened to myself and acted on how I feel, I would rarely, if ever, exercise, and I would eat way too much of all that is unhealthy!

The secret is in telling yourself what you know you must do. In most cases your inner-voice will go to great lengths to talk you out of it—don't listen!

Here are some benefits of talking to yourself beyond just motivation according to Grace Tworek, PsyD.

Critical thinking

Situational self-talk conversation starter: “How can the day get scheduled to get this to-do list done?”

This type of self-talk can help you break a situation down and organize your thoughts. Dr. Tworek explains it as “internal problem solving,” or a way to make a plan and stay on task moving forward.

Increased focus

Situational self-talk conversation starter: “Keep an eye out for deer on this road.”

An internal conversation engages more areas of your brain, allowing you to better pay attention to what’s happening around you. “Self-talk can be a powerful tool during a situation that requires more concentration,” explains Dr. Tworek.

Stress reduction

Situational self-talk conversation starter: “Take a deep breath. It’s going to be OK.”

An internal monologue can be used to regulate your emotions when a day takes a tough and unexpected turn. Conversations in your head can be calming and help you keep things together. “It’s about telling yourself that everything will be alright.”