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#2 Self Talk
By now, it’s fairly well
known that the words
you speak directly relate
to how you see the world
and yourself. So when you
say “I can’t do it”, “I’m not
strong enough”, or “that’s
impossible”, your brain is inclined to agree with you whether you like it or not.
But what you might not know is that the brain is notoriously bad at hearing negatives, like don’t, not, and no. That explains why when told “Don’t think of a pink elephant” we can’t help but picture the very same thing.
So saying “don’t screw up” or “don’t round your back” is akin to telling your brain that you want to focus on the very things you are trying to avoid.
Everyone uses self-talk, no matter if they think they do or not, so make it work for you by doing it right. Here are some key tips to set your self-talk straight and reap the benefits of your practice.
Speak in the Affirmative
Always phrase things toward what you want to accomplish, and not what you want to avoid. Substitute “finish strong” for “don’t give up”, and “spread the floor with your feet” for “don’t let your knees fall in”.
You wouldn’t put up with anyone talking crap to you in the gym, so why do you accept it coming out of your own mouth, or even worse, your own brain? My clients are firmly discouraged from using negative language or speaking ill of themselves, because they’re awesome, and you are too.
High Energy
When you’re grinding away at weights that feel heavier than normal, psyche yourself up by using high energy self-talk. If you can’t think of anything off the top of your head, just remember any football game you’ve ever been too and what words they flashed across the jumbotron. “Close it out!” “Let’s Go!” “Keep Pushing!”
All of these will psyche you up and help you get into the training mindset as you close out a tough workout or finish a game.