Self-talk can determine your success. Negative self-talk is when you talk about yourself in defeating and detrimental ways and this can adversely affect your outcomes. Positive self-talk is your internal dialogue that is motivating and uplifting. It exudes confidence and focuses on strengths.
Shifting your language from negative to positive self-talk helps you be more confident and successful, both at work and in daily life. Here are two examples of shifting your self-talk language:
- Negative self-talk: I’m upset and disappointed with my work evaluation. I feel like there is no purpose in staying in my position. I am going to keep getting bad reviews. I just can’t please my boss.
Positive self-talk: Although I expected a high evaluation, I’m proud of myself for the time, work, and effort that I did. Next quarter, I will reach out for assistance and learn new ways to fix the errors that I made last quarter. I will remain confident so that my next evaluation will show improvement.
2. Negative self-talk: I want to apply for a new job but I don’t have all the requirements. I believe that I am not skilled enough and am unprepared to apply for different jobs. Why bother applying!?! I probably should stay in the awful job I have because I know I won’t be as qualified as other candidates.
Positive self-talk: I will succeed in finding a new job. I will challenge myself to apply for positions for which I have to stretch to achieve all the requirements. I will also adjust and learn so I can get experience doing new tasks. I will continue to network and educate myself so that I can be successful in a new position.