Positive Self-Talk

Manifesting positive changes in one’s life using self-talk can be tricky. People often project the changes to behavior or feeling into future tense statements or use negatively worded statements when internalizing their self-talk. It is far better to talk to one's Self in a positive fashion in the present tense. The subconscious does not understand the concept of future when phrases like "want to be" and "will be" are used in self-talk. The subconscious also does not understand negatives such as "not" and "never". The subconscious is only concerned with the present, the "now" that you are currently aware of.

Talk to your Self in the present tense rather than future tense. A typical example is internalizing the thought “I want to be happy”. Wanting to be something is not the same as already being that something. Wanting speaks to some future fulfillment. It is much better to map positive self-talk into the present tense of “I am happy”. Why put off to the future what you are right now?

Do not use negative-oriented statements such as "I do not want to be sad today". What the subconscious hears is "I do ___ want to be sad today". Speak of the opposite of that which you are "not" wanting to be. It is better to speak a positive statement to one's Self like "I am happy today" which puts you in a better state of mind.

Use your imagination to build an image of your Self that you can comfortably be. I have an image in my head of my Self being happy and fulfilled. I am an open, loving person who hides nothing of his Self from the world. I practice being that person by talking, walking, thinking, acting, and living that image. I do not "want" to be anything as I already "am" those things when talking to my Self. I reprogram my subconscious using positive affirmations and the belief that I am those things already. If you believe, the changes manifest themselves in your life. Put on your new, improved Self and wear it daily like an old, comfortable shirt.

Some examples of positive self-talk statements in the present tense that I use:

- "I am happy!"

- "I am sexy!"

- "I am wonderful!"

- "I am healthy!"

- "I am an open and loving!"

- "I am successful and am accomplishing good things in my life!"

- "I am a beautiful person!"

- "I am a divine being doing great work in the world!"

- "I am loved by many wonderful persons!"

- "I am having a wonderful day!"

- "I am living an incredibly wonderful life!"

Namaste,

--Zen