What are You Telling Yourself?
“You talk to yourself at the rate of 800 wpm. Others talk to you at the rate of 100 wpm. Your words program your computer the most.” -Coach Thomas and Coach Kerns
I found this quote very interesting. I do not know the source of the numbers. Some quick research will show you that we can speak between 100 to 200 words per minute. I have seen the estimate of “self-talk” being in the range of 1,400 wpm, up to 20 times the amount of words we can speak. Suffice it to say that the thought communicated above is that we are talking to ourselves exponentially more than we are listening to others. Therefore, it follows that the content and tenor of the “self-talk” is extremely influential in our lives.
Perhaps Coach was focusing in on the power of positive thinking. It makes sense. If we can speak to ourselves in great volumes and those thoughts and words are positive, then what we communicate and do will likely be positive. I believe Coach was asking his players to think in terms of achieving the goals they had set for themselves and thinking themselves worthy of the pursuit of excellence. A person who focuses their self-talk on achievement will push and work to achieve whatever goals they set for themselves.
My thoughts are about this quote are similar. How much time do we waste thinking about and talking to ourselves about things that are negative, in the past, or counter-productive? Have you ever listened to yourself? I suspect we have all been faced with periods of time that we are focused on and speaking to ourselves in negative and limiting ways. I have a strong tendency to do just that. In fact, it can become debilitating. Sometimes, I just want my brain to be quiet and leave me alone.
One of the themes of Coach’s teaching is the ability to determine and make choices that lead to positive results and goal achievement. Here, he recognizes that a vital clog in that machine is the way we speak to ourselves and how that affects our subsequent actions. He also recognizes that we can exercise some control and discipline over our thought life. So, why do we get stuck in negative thinking and destructive self-talk?
Perhaps we have never realized that we can exercise control and discipline over our self-talk. At this time, I would challenge you to simply listen to yourself. What is going through your mind? Do your thoughts coincide with your goals? Do your thoughts lead you closer to your goals or do they limit your horizons?
If you find your thoughts are indeed in need of repair and a new direction, then they must be replaced. Fill yourself with information and thoughts to talk about that are in line with your values and goals. In sports it is easy to envision and internally discuss your tasks and goals. In life it can be more difficult, but the principal is the same. Set a goal and talk to yourself about achieving that goal, not all the reasons you can’t or the barriers that would prevent you from doing so. Set a goal and talk to yourself about the plan for achieving that goal. Move away from filling yourself with thoughts of failure and move your mind toward focus on achievement. Your actions and accomplishments will follow.
Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone
“In order to improve you must get out of your comfort zone. Compete.” -Coach Thomas and Coach Kerns
We are on the verge of yet another March Madness. The NCAA Basketball Tournament and all of its excitement and glory offers a great opportunity to see competition at its highest level and in its most passionate form. The chosen teams have competed for nearly five months, working to improve so that they will have an opportunity to win the championship trophy.
A comfort zone is a place where we have no stress and feel safe. It is created by the habit of doing the same thing all the time or by staying within certain limits we are confident about operating inside. We are comfortable in our routines and I don’t think that is a bad thing. Many times, being in our comfort zone can allows us to perform tasks at a high level of efficiency and creates great contentment in our current situation. However, it can be trap for the unwary as well.
Contentment leaves us vulnerable when we are in a competitive situation. Those teams in the NCAA Tournament cannot be content with their ordinary performance level when they are competing in a “loser leaves” scenario. Those that will win multiple games in the tournament will have to play different styles of basketball, uncomfortable ones, and the players, teams, and coaches that can adapt to the pressure of being outside of their comfort zone will likely prevail. Those that “compete” regardless of the circumstances will give themselves a better opportunity to win the contest.
When we stretch our muscles further, they become more limber. When we lift more weight than we have previously, our muscles get stronger. When we step out and develop relationships with persons outside of our normal group, we open ourselves to personal growth. When we open ourselves to new ideas, we grow in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. No matter the context, our age, or our perceived limitations, we can all stretch to grow on any level we so choose.
Where do you need to “compete” and grow in your life? Athletically, at your job, financially, in school, in your relationships? All present opportunities to stretch beyond what has been comfortable and to experience growth. Coach pushed his players to do more than what they were comfortable with. He constantly pushed for improvement and achieved results by pushing us to compete at the highest level we were capable of competing.
As you watch March Madness, reflect on the effort expended and the focus on improvement by the players and coaches involved. Apply effort and focus to an area of your life where you can stretch and grow. Compete for a more full life, open to opportunity, and deserving of the blessings that await.
