When in Self-Doubt, Talk Negative To Do It

Insight #71

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Are your resolutions already slipping? Then boost yourself the way that little toy engine did when he puffed, “I think I can, I know I can, of course I can” or words to that effect.

This little engine is not alone in believing in the power of positive talk. Many people, up and down the tracks, have on occasion chanted “Yes! We! Can!”

Yes, indeed, chanting positivity can be fun. But does it work?

Not always. That little engine made it to the top because he knew himself already. He wasn’t at “I hope I can” phase. He was at “of course I can!” Affirmations work when they match your actual abilities, not your wished for abilities.

But there is grave risk in positive talk… when you doubt yourself. That’s when positive talk turns negative and your affirmation cancelled out. Social research confirms this.

So, if you don’t believe in yourself, don’t kid your yourself with honeyed self-talk. It would be better to tell yourself bluntly, “I think I can’t, I know I can’t, of course I can’t.”

Maybe then you will make it happen, because now you have two negatives, negative belief and negative talk. And two negatives, as you know, always make a positive.

Welcome to my side of the nonsense divide.

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