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.