I am only sharing these ideas with everyone as a possible perspective for people to consider. I am not a licensed medical professional, nor am a licensed mental health professional. If you want authoritative information or feel you need help, please seek the proper, professional medical and/or mental health care. Thanks and best wishes!
Check out this video using self-talk quotes from What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by Shad Helmstetter:
The book (and this video by Tim Tialdo) may help you learn to live a better life with positive self-talk. Basically, you pick phrases that express positive actions and attitudes that you want to embody. You repeat (by speaking and writing) these phrases to yourself and over time your thinking becomes more in line with the self-talk.
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I’ve been listening to the above video a few times a day for the last couple of week. It seems to be a good thing for me. I would definitely recommend checking out this video to my friends. I am not a certified psychologist/medical professional but I think that a lot of people could learn a lot from working on their positive self-talk. It’s worth looking into this avenue of self-growth.
Update (July 2018): I stopped listening to the video after a while, because it started to get boring – but then I started listening to it again. It still is a great video to check out. But it has definitely inspired me to make my own self-talk cards and phrases.
Check out ideas for developing self-belief and overcoming self-doubt in music (video).
When and How to Listen to Positive Self-Talk Phrases
There’s all sorts of ways someone can listen to self-talk during the day. I downloaded an mp3 version of Tim Tialdo’s video on my phone. Then I listen whenever I feel like. Usually, I’ll try to listen (with headphone) when I’m doing “chores” like washing dishes, driving, checking email – basically anything that I am doing where I have the mp3 going in the background. I may start listening first thing in the morning and find another mp3 to listen to at night.
Shad Helmstetter’s self-talk tapes have morning, 2 daytime sections and an nighttime section. For example, the Health & Fitness program has 4 sections:
Morning –– A Positive Picture of the Healthy You
Daytime 1 –– Creating the Habit of Healthiness
Daytime 2 –– Taking Action, Being Healthy
Nighttime –– Making the Choice of Living Fit
Also, you create your own tapes. Take the phrases you want use and record your own tape. Then listen to it on a regular basis.
Basic Logic Behind Self-Talk
- Most people have certain phrases that repeat to themselves
- If those phrase are positive, then great! (For example, “What a beautiful day!”, “I’m so grateful to be here”, “Today is great!”.
- If those repetitive phrase seem more negative, it’s good to recognize negative phrases (i.e. “I alway screw up!”, “I suck”). The next step self-talk step would be to start using more positive self-talk phrases.
- If a person reads, listen, mentally and verbal speak positive phrases, these positive ideas will start to “crowd out” other thoughts. If those other thoughts are the more negative thoughts, then over time the brain may start to use the more positive self-talk phrases in place of the negative self-talk phrases.
- Making a daily habit of reading, listening and/or speaking positive self-talk phrases will actually help a person’s brain think more in line with the positive thoughts.
If you’re interested in learning more about the science behind self-talk, Helmstetter, check out The Power of Neuroplasticity. I haven’t read the book, but I am going to check it out soon.
Check out this page with a video on self-talk.
Shad Helmstetter explains Self-talk:
Positive Self-talk Phrases
For example, you could use the following positive self-talk phrase(s) in regards to different ideas about wealth.
I see having financial Wealth and Freedom as a POSITIVE, REACHABLE GOAL in my life.
I also choose to have WEALTH in my FRIENDSHIPS, in my FAMILY, in my IDEAS, in my WORK and in my VALUE as a quality INDIVIDUAL! I am WEALTHY in SO MANY ways!!
Here’s the video, where you read these phrases out loud:
One of my favorite parts of the books talks about creating self-talk tapes. You write out positive self-talk phrases and then record yourself reading these out loud. Then you listen back to the recording(s) as you go about your day.
Here’s another where can repeat back the positive self-talk phrases:
Components to a well-crafted phrase
According to Dr. Helmstetter, here’s so important components to well-crafted phrases. It’s in Chapter 22, entitled the Self-Talk Checklist.
Self-Talk Checklist
- Is your self-talk stated in present tense?
- Is it specific?
- Does it get the job done without creating any unwanted side effects?
- Is it easy to use?
- Is it practical?
- Is it personal and honest?
- Does your self-talk ask enough of you?
Self-Talk in Music
So here’s some possible self-talk phrases that might work in music. Please feel free to make your own and repeat them throughout the day. I’m still learning, so please keep in mind these are a few I just came up with. You may want to use them, use them as springboards to other
- I love music
- I play beautiful music with good vibes
- I am present and focused on the music and vibes
- I feel the music
- I play with good time
- I connect with my fellow musician in with positive personal and musical vibes
- I express beauty, love and good vibes with my music
Identifying Negative Self-Talk in Musical Endeavors
Check out this post about identifying negative self-talk in music and transforming it into positive self-talk. She explains how negative self-talk can result in creating a less-than-optimal outcome. For example (from Peak Performances for Musicians website)
A = Activating Event (missing or flubbing the high note)
B = Belief about that Event (It is extremely AWFUL that I missed that note! Resulting thought: “I’m awful or stupid!”)
C = Consequences (Almost miss next entrance and can’t sustain the last note)
also quotes Epictetus, who says ““We are not disturbed by things, but by the views which we take of them.”
Five Levels of Self-Talk
- Level 1 – Level of Negative Acceptance (“I can’t…”)
- Level 2 – Level of Recognition and Need to Change (“I need to … , I should”)
- Level 3 – Level of Decision to Change (“I never … , I no longer”)
- Level 4 – Level of The Better You (“I am”)
- Level of Universal Affirmations (“It is .. “) – These are positive affirmations reflect a higher level of spirit and/or consciousness that usually talk about bigger picture ideas/concepts (i.e. “Life, to me, is a place of joy…serenity…peace…”)
Most of the positive self-talk phrases most people are using are Level 4. Level 4s are considered positive and also what may most affect someones “day-to-day” life.