How you talk to yourself matters

Years ago, I hit a business milestone I thought was unreachable. When I told my business coach, he said,  ‘Of course you did it! You’re Mike F***’in Goldman!’

That made me feel so good I added “I’m Mike F***’in Goldman” to my list of affirmations. 

Affirmations?! Not that positive thinking bullsh*t Mike!

Whether you know it or not, you’re using affirmations all the time. Maybe you only say them in your head, but you do, we all do, talk to ourselves in ways that impact our behavior. The problem is, most of what we tell ourselves is DISEMPOWERING.

An affirmation involves identifying EMPOWERING beliefs about yourself, and then using them to drive you to become the best version of yourself, to achieve what you want to achieve. 

Positive affirmations create electrical superhighways in your brain, so you clearly see opportunities to achieve those positive outcomes.

Using affirmations can be really useful when something challenges you. Come up with an affirmation to help you shift your thinking around that challenge, and turn an automated negative response into a purposefully positive one. 

The trick is to find the right affirmations for you, the ones that energize YOU. Sometimes, your affirmations may state things you don’t quite fully believe are possible right now. 

One of my first ones was:

I have a thriving business of loyal clients. 

I created that affirmation when I had exactly three clients, and I wasn't sure I was going to be able to grow my business. 

But that belief empowered me and today, it couldn’t be more true.

Start by understanding what beliefs would serve you—because let’s face it, we have a lot of beliefs that don't serve us. 

What beliefs would empower you?

What beliefs would serve you?

Then write those beliefs down as first person, present tense affirmations: 

I am…

Make a habit of saying these affirmations every day. Before you go to sleep, first thing in the morning, when you feel yourself slipping into negative thought patterns. 

Create a habit of rewiring your brain with affirmations.

The second part of that Mike F***’in Goldman story is that when I told my coach I added that phrase to my list of affirmations. You know what he said?

‘Are you kidding? I had “I coach Mike F***’in Goldman” as one of my affirmations for years!’

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