session 3
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Guest
Hi. I am so sorry no one replied to this. I can see it is discouraging. You are correct, being negative so long does offer us challenges. But the trick is to keep spotting the stuff that brings you down, the things you think that make you uncomfortable. Here is something I did with Session Three that helped a lot:
I told myself, I cannot have a feeling without first having a thought. When my feelings are uncomfortable, I stop, and spot what I was thinking just prior to the bad feeling.
This is simple, really. And it makes a big difference, and will help you get a handle on the Self Talk that you defeat yourself with, really.
Again, when you feel bad, STOP.
What did you just tell yourself?
Now you can do something to change that self talk, because you caught it just when you said it.
Okay?
I told myself, I cannot have a feeling without first having a thought. When my feelings are uncomfortable, I stop, and spot what I was thinking just prior to the bad feeling.
This is simple, really. And it makes a big difference, and will help you get a handle on the Self Talk that you defeat yourself with, really.
Again, when you feel bad, STOP.
What did you just tell yourself?
Now you can do something to change that self talk, because you caught it just when you said it.
Okay?
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Guest
There is a book that helps me TREMENDOUSLY with this. It's called What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by Shad Helmstetter. It's all about reprogramming your brain to replace years of negative self-talk with positive words.
I think something that is important to remember is that you don't necessarily have to believe everything you say to yourself at first. When you feel tense and full of anxiety, it's hard to believe yourself when you say, "I feel great and today is going to be wonderful!"
This book talks all about repetition and how your brain is like a computer; It only knows what you tell it.
I would recommend going out and getting this book TODAY and starting to read it immediately. Not only is it great information, but it always seems to give me hope when I'm feeling like all is lost.
Also, try wearing a rubber band around your wrist. Whenever you have a negative thought, snap the band and force your brain to think a positive thought (even if you don't believe it at the moment). When I do this regularly, I find that just snapping the band sends a sense of calm into my chest.
I think something that is important to remember is that you don't necessarily have to believe everything you say to yourself at first. When you feel tense and full of anxiety, it's hard to believe yourself when you say, "I feel great and today is going to be wonderful!"
This book talks all about repetition and how your brain is like a computer; It only knows what you tell it.
I would recommend going out and getting this book TODAY and starting to read it immediately. Not only is it great information, but it always seems to give me hope when I'm feeling like all is lost.
Also, try wearing a rubber band around your wrist. Whenever you have a negative thought, snap the band and force your brain to think a positive thought (even if you don't believe it at the moment). When I do this regularly, I find that just snapping the band sends a sense of calm into my chest.