A while ago a client recommended the book The Carpenter: A Story About the Greatest Success Principles of All, by Jon Gordon.

Never to turn down a recommended read, I ordered it. I enjoyed it tremendously (and it didn’t hurt that it was a quick read at only 134 pages).

Although the book was great, there was one chapter in particular that continues to stick with me. When my Monkey Mind starts to work against me, as I know yours can do as well, I find myself calling upon the Success Principle of:

Talk to Yourself instead of Listening to Yourself 

How many times do you listen to the messages your brain tells you?
Messages like:

  • You’ll never get this done.
  • How do you expect to compete with all these intelligent candidates?
  • You’ve gotten so lucky before, this “luck” has to run out sometime.
  • You are not going to be able to answer these questions and you’re going to look like you don’t belong here.
  • You can’t solve this problem.
  • This situation is a nightmare; how can it ever work out?

If you listen to yourself, you hear all the negative thoughts, all the complaints, all the fears, all the doubts, and all the reasons why you shouldn’t be able to overcome whatever it is that’s on your plate.

Instead of listening to yourself, try TALKING TO YOURSELF INSTEAD.

Feed yourself the messages that move you forward.
Messages like:

  • I’m already more successful than I ever imagined I would be, the next level is just waiting for me to arrive there.
  • I’ve failed before, I’ll fail again and I’m still going to be right here after.
  • Hold on, let me look at everything I’ve accomplished…… (nice, list, huh?)
  • What am I going to slay today?
  • I’m here for a reason and this is my season; I’m going to chip away at this one more time until I get it done.
  • I’m like a fine wine; I get better with time.

Gordon writes, “Negative thoughts are the nails that build a prison of failure. Positive thoughts will build you a masterpiece. We are ready for great things.”

We are masterpieces and we are ready for great things.

Outsmart your brain.

Talk to yourself instead of listening to yourself.

Please tell me how it goes!! I’m doing it too.