Ditch Your Limitations | Dynamic Marketing 2017

One of my favorite podcasts of all time is called the Art of Charm by Jordan Harbinger. It's a personal development podcast that focuses on teaching advanced social skills for top performing individuals. To all of you entrepreneurs and business owners reading this, you NEED to tune into this podcast. You'll thank me later. 

I find myself listening to podcasts during my workouts or when I'm doing things around the house. This morning, I tuned into a recent episode with special guest Jim Kwik - a brain coach who works with several huge brands you'd recognize (like Harvard, Virgin, Fox Studios, Zappos, etc).

This particular episode really spoke to me. Jim discussed several topics including improving memory, learning, and recall skills. But what really stood out to me was his take on self-talk. Negative, limiting self-talk that is. 

The way we talk to ourselves is so grossly important that it can be the deciding factor in wether or not you are successful and happy in life. Jim referenced a book he had read as a teenager about the brain science behind running marathons. A quote from the book went something like this (i'm paraphrasing)...

"Your brain is a super computer and your self-talk is the program that runs it."

 It's 100% true. We need to be so careful with our self-talk because it programs our supercomputer. Jim goes onto say, "Your mind is always eavesdropping on your self talk." DID YOU HEAR THAT? YOUR MIND IS ALWAYS EAVESDROPPING ON YOUR SELF TALK!! 

Something I've strived to improve in my life is negative self-talk. Those of you who know me understand that this is something that used to cause me quite a bit of strife. To the surprise of a lot of people, I used to struggle with self-confidence. I tell that to people now, and they don't believe me for a second. And I'm awfully proud of that, because it means years of developing and learning is paying off. 

When you fill your head with negative self-talk, you defend your limitations. When you defend your limitations, you get to keep them.

Limiting self-talk is now one of my biggest peeves. I hear them all the time. Friends, family, acquaintances...and I've just about had enough!

"I could never do that because X."

"i'm just not a good public speaker."

"I have this injury, so I can't do X."

"Oh, I've just NEVER been good at that."

GIVE ME A FREAKIN' BREAK.

If you defend your limitations, you get to keep them.

It is a fact that the most successful and happy people understand that they steer the ship that is their life. They take responsibility for the circumstances in their life, good or bad. Meaning, they don't play the victim when bad things happen. They know that they are in control. They see the world as a video game and they hold the controller. 

As a teenager and young adult, I used to play the victim. I'd complain about the circumstances around me, I'd wonder why life is so hard. I'd whine when I didn't get my way. But not anymore. Through personal development and retraining my brain, I've redirected my thoughts and you know what? Life feels a hell of a lot easier. Good things come my way. Sure, some things are still hard. I have to work hard for the good that comes my way, but it always comes. I control my life. I steer my own ship.

Recognizing and eliminating negative self talk is the key player in leading a successful and happy life. 

Here's a challenge for you. Keep a small journal handy for the next week. Write down your thoughts 2-3x per day. Write it down. Are you mostly positive or negative? How are you reacting to the circumstances around you? Are you in the drivers seat or are you taking a passive approach to what's happening? Are you complaining or are you learning? 

Letting go of negative self-talk as an entrepreneur and business owner is the best piece of personal development advice I can give you. Think about it: entrepreneurs are visionaries. We're creators. We see things that others do not and then we take action and implement. When Walt Disney was looking out at fields of orange groves and dreaming of what would be Disneyland, he'd have a hell of a time pulling it off if he was talking crap to himself. Don't you think?

If you're still reading this, I encourage you to do a journaling exercise for a week so you can become aware of how you're talking to yourself. You might learn that your thoughts are more limiting than you initially realized. We have so many thoughts throughout the day, and I for one know that my thoughts are not always the nicest. This is why continuing to develop yourself is one of the best forms of self-care you can practice. 

 Meditation is also a great way to listen and watch your thoughts as they pass through your mind. Improving yourself is all about taking that next step and trying something new. I like searching for short meditations on youtube - about 5 minute meditations are perfect for me, but everyone is different. Give meditating a shot and you'll discover what you like and don't like.

Ready, Set, GO.

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Love,

Michaela