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Inside of all of our minds there is a constant dialogue going on.
"Should I do this?"
"Why did I forget that?"
We constantly talk to ourselves all day long. So what are you telling yourself?
This concept is known as self-talk. I can tell you without a doubt that what you say to yourself every day will strongly impact the belief you have in your own capabilites as it relates to lifting weights or any other challenging endeavor.
People tend to underplay the importance of this concept. However, imagine if you were around another person who would constantly tell you that you were incapable of accomplishing your goals (hopefully you have not had to experience this in real life). Don't you think that constantly being reminded of your shortcomings would have an affect on you?
While you can't change what other people say, with some hard work you can change your internal dialogue.
The first step to this is repeating your desired action over and over again in your head. I work with athletes, so when we are training I tell them to tell themselves (in their head) something like, "I will do 10 perfect reps."
Of course, this is not magic. You must actually have the physical capabilities to accomplish something. But I think you will find more often than not, it is the mind which holds us back, not the body.
The second stop is to say the same thing out loud. This is a very powerful tool. Hearing something out loud is similar to hearing someone else say something about us. It helps you to internalize it and to believe it. I have worked with many athletes who get themselves pumped-up for a hard set by saying something like, "Come on! I got this!"
Keep in mind that all of this positive self-talk takes a lot of repetition if you are currently someone who has a lot of negative self-talk. It is hard to break that habit. It may take months or years before you begin to unconsciously think this way, but I can guarantee you that it's worth the effort.
With athletes a change in mindset like this can mean the difference between playing high school sports and professional sports. But even if you aren't an athlete, positive self-talk can make a huge difference in your life.
When combined with a well-designed training and nutrition program, I think you will find that positive self-talk will only enhance your progress.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
