Archive for Positive Self Talk
Not All “What If” Thinking Is Bad Thinking
Posted by: | CommentsDoctors say that not all bacteria is bad for you. Sure you have the kind of bacteria that causes inflammation in your body. The kind of bacteria that causes you to get sick – the kind that causes diseases.
But studies show that some bacteria is actually good for you. Some bacteria can actually strengthen your immune system. This bacteria will in turn cause you to fight off sickness and disease. My friend, I like to liken this sort of mentality to the way we think.
You see, experts say that you should eliminate all “what if” thinking completely. You know those thoughts of worry, fear, doubt, insecurity… “Well, what if I can’t overcome this addiction?” “What if I can’t be made whole?” “What if the doctor’s report comes back negative?” “What if I try out for the team and I don’t make it?“
For the most part you do want to avoid this kind of thinking. An overflow of these thoughts can indeed cause you to flow into a downward spiral.
However, we all have those times when we can’t help but think “what if” thoughts. Sometimes they’re not all bad. In fact, I believe some “what if” thoughts can cause you to break out of ruts.
I’m reminded of a time when I was younger and I touched a hot stove. Before I ever touched the hot stove, I always thought – “What happens if I touch the hot stove… how hot can it be?” Well, one day I worked up the nerve to touch the stove and I must say it was the hottest touch I ever experienced. Thankfully, my instincts caused an immediate jerk reaction. It was at that time I learned what does happen when I touch a hot stove and vowed to never do it again.
Well, this is what should happen when we find ourselves thinking “what if” thoughts. We should allow them to instill just enough fear into us that no matter what happens in life, we know that God has our best interests at heart and therefore we should not worry.
You see, it’s the “what if” thoughts that give us character. It’s the “what if” thoughts that spark our curiosity and gives us the experience to know what’s good for us and what’s not good for us.
“Well what if I don’t win the race?” Well, what if you don’t win the race? Will you give up? Will you become saturated in defeat or will you press on until you reach victory?
“What if I don’t do well on the test?” Well, what if you don’t do well? Will Read More→
Speak Your Destiny Into Existence
Posted by: | CommentsYou have the great ability to be able to speak words of power into your life. You can speak to the mountains in your life, command that they be removed, and they will be moved.
You can turn any bad trial into triumph by speaking encouraging words over yourself.
I’m reminded of the scripture where men were speaking of stoning David, and as a result he became distressed. But David encouraged himself in the Lord. (1 Samuel 30:6)
God has given you the ability to speak anything that you desire into existence, if you go to Him and ask. We know this because Matthew 7:7 exclaims, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.“
It’s important that exercise faith, after going to God and asking of a need. Realize one of the greatest attributes of faith is believing before seeing.
When you command the mountains in your life to move, they have no other choice but to move. We’re encouraged of this because Mark 11:23 reminds us: “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.“
You see God has given you the awesome power to speak victory into your life. It’s up to you release self-doubt, let go of fear, relinquish the self defeat of your past and own up to your destiny.
You owe it to yourself to speak words of life into your future and believe in your heart and not doubt that you are an over-comer. Just like Mark 11:23 says if you speak that the mountains in your life be removed and don’t doubt- keyword doubt- then and only then will it be done for you.
You may say “This mountain is too big, I just don’t see any possible way around it,” well my friend, that’s where the problem begins. If those are the words that Read More→
10 Optimistic Life Quotes To Live By
Posted by: | CommentsPositive quotes are like a seed that causes internal growth and maturity. Like affirmations, these positive sayings are partly responsible for guiding our thoughts on the right path.
Optimistic life quotes have the ability to shift our thoughts from worry, doubt, aggravation, and fear to inspiration, motivation, faith, and confidence. I have devised a list of 10 positive quotes and biblical references below.
1. Clear your mind of can’t. – Samuel Johnson
(I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. – Philippians 4:13)
2. A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd. – Unknown
(Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. – 2 Corinthians 6:17)
3. Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records. – William A. Ward
(If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. – Proverbs 24:10)
4. Character is what you are in the dark. – Dwight L. Moody
(The integrity of the upright shall guide them… – Proverbs 11:3)
5. The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.
(…For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. – Philippians 4:11,13)
6. Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence. – Unknown
(Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him… – Daniel 6:3)
7. If you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything!
(…If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. – Isaiah 7:9)
8. A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes another’s. – Jean Paul Richter
(A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. – Matthew 12:35)
9. What you do speaks so loud that Read More→
4 Ways To Reward Yourself For Achievements
Posted by: | CommentsHow often do you praise yourself for achievements that you’ve made in the past? We’re always encouraged to view the glass as half full but we don’t always take proper action to reward ourselves when we make great accomplishments.
When we train dogs, we’re taught that we should praise them and reward them when they do right. But when they do bad, we have to let them know as well so that they learn the difference between right and wrong.
Unfortunately when we do wrong or make mistakes, we reminded of the fact because we beat ourselves up about it. We know, all to well, when we fail at something because we remind ourselves over and over with such negative self talk.
The problem is that we don’t uplift ourselves enough when we do good. I know we’re taught to be humble and not to toot our own horn, but there comes a time when you have to break down and award yourself. Here are 4 ways to reward yourself when celebrating some of life’s greatest accomplishments.
1. Indulge – Next time you pass by the ice cream aisle or cookie stand at the supermarket, slip a box or 2 into your shopping cart. Better yet, on the way home stop by Krispy Kreme Donuts and grab a box of hot donuts fresh right out the oven. The key to doing this is to be in the moment. Dwell on the hard work that you’ve put forth and celebrate your achievements.
2. Take some time off – Schedule time off and get some rest and relaxation. You don’t want to make life all work and no play. Take time off and enjoy the laid back pleasures of life.
3. Pamper yourself – There’s nothing more rewarding than being pampered. Make an appointment with the local masseuse and get a sixty minute full body massage.
4. Weekend retreat - Certainly you wouldn’t want to celebrate alone. Why not Read More→
Six Phrases To Eliminate From Your Vocabulary
Posted by: | CommentsSome of the phrases that we say on nearly a daily basis are very damaging to our psyche. Would you tell your three year old child that he would never amount to nothing? Why would you say that to yourself?
You may not directly say that to yourself in those exact words but you communicate that to yourself indirectly, through other words and phrases. Remember, anything you say to yourself over and over again, whether good or bad, is something that you start to believe. You embed those thoughts and behaviors into your mind.
The same words and behaviors that you choose to use around children, should be the same care that you exercise when talking to yourself. Below, I’ve devised six phrases that should be eliminated from your vocabulary.
1. I Can’t – It’s no wonder that you never end up accomplishing the things that you want out of life, when you tell yourself that you can’t do something. When you go about life with an attitude that you can’t, then you never will. Change your mentality from an I can’t to a Can Do mentality.
2. I don’t deserve – At a young age, we’re all taught to be humble and put others before ourselves, and I agree. However, there are times when you have to consider yourself. You have to reward yourself for your own hard work. Many people sabotage themselves because they focus on what they feel they don’t deserve. Eliminate this phrase from your mentality and reward yourself for the things that you do deserve.
3. I’m not good enough – I’ve been playing drums for about 18 years now. One of the phrases that I’ve heard way too often coming up, while conversing with others, is “I’m not good enough.” Many people would ask me, “how are you so coordinated? How do you do this with your right hand, while doing that with your left foot, while keeping your right foot going?” And the next thing I hear them utter to themselves is, “wow, I’m not that coordinated, I don’t see how you do it. I could never learn to play drums like that.”
Many of the challenges that we’re well capable of, we end up Read More→
Avoid the Naysayers, Tune Into the Voices of Life
Posted by: | CommentsI was watching the movie Dr. Dolittle today and it reminded me of the way we talk to ourselves and the people we hang around. You see, Eddie Murphy’s character in the movie could hear the animals talking to him. And there was this one particular scene in the movie where the hamster was calling him names like, crazy man, weirdo, dummy, you name it- every dirty name in the book, the hamster called him that name.
I got to thinking, it may not be so bad if I heard animals talking to me because I’m the type of person that would simply ignore them. I would tune the animals out to the point to where people around me would never know that I could hear them.
Then I thought that although I may be able to tune out the animals, I can’t control what comes out of their mouths. It’s like being a parent and not being able control what channel is playing on TV while your kids are watching. Good luck.
The thing about having this problem is that seemingly, everywhere you go there are animals. You go outside there are birds talking to you. People are walking their dogs. There are Read More→
25 Positive Affirmations – Take Control of Your Mind
Posted by: | CommentsA good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. – Luke 6:45 KJV
A wise man once said: “An idle mind is the devils workshop.” I believe this is true. I always say if you don’t fill your mind, then the devil will fill it for you. The enemy will try to convince you that you’re not good enough or that you’re not physically able to do something. He’ll even try to Read More→
How To Deal With Negative Thoughts Associated With Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone.
Posted by: | CommentsLife is like a game of chess. Many times the enemy will attack us harder when we are making strides that are detrimental to the enemy’s camp. In other words, when the enemy sees us making a move that will take us to a new dimension in our life, he will attack us where it matters most, our minds. Read More→
The Importance of The Word “I” In Positive Affirmations
Posted by: | CommentsI can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
An affirmation is anything that we repeat over to ourselves. It is something that we believe in when repeated enough times.
One of the most important parts of an Read More→
There Is Power In Positive Thinking
Posted by: | CommentsYou have the choice of whether you dwell on the positive or negative in your life. I believe that if you focus on fear and failure then you will bring more of that into your life.
Timothy 1:7 tells us that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.”
We should boldly encourage ourselves and focus on things that are positive to us. One way to change negative thoughts is: for the next two or Read More→
