Step # 1: The Correct Attitude (Page 3)

Phase One: Become Aware of Your Faulty Thinking

Typically, mistaken thinking runs along obvious lines. After some research, I have recognized ten of the most general self-defeating messages that can weaken our efforts. Clearly, if we know what these messages are and become aware of them in our own life, we can change the path of our efforts. They are:

1. Outside / Inside: Sensibly, measure what you can control and what you cannot, and take action to make a change in your life.

2. Classifying: Classifications are self-descriptions in your inner chats that echo certain statements you’ve make about yourself. Many of these labels came from how you observed yourself, messing up or it has come from others. However, whatever their basis, you’re inclined to internalize your labels, believe your labels, and live by your labels. When you believe such a label as true, you destroy your self-confidence, your self-determination, and your longing for a better life. If you believe a destructive label, then you’ll completely miss proof to the opposite.

3. Jamming Belief: So when faced with a jamming belief, protect yourself. You convince yourself that any type of lifestyle change is difficult.

4. Crystal Ball Gazing: You are your own psychic and you can foretell your future. You make predictions about your future all the time.

5. The Whole Enchilada Thinking: Many times, you could be at the grocery store and tell yourself, “what the heck, I keep looking at those strawberries and this time I bought them. I’ve blown my budget, so why not get that extra half-gallon of ice cream.”

6. Devastation Thinking: You know you’re in difficulty when you evaluative events and overstate their importance or consequence. It is a form of negative self-talk when an extra dollar you spend is the most you’ve overspent. When you talk to yourself like this, it can lead to loss of self-control.

7. Follow Impossible Dreams: Maybe you’re thinking, “if I save money on my budget, I’ll be like Donald Trump and have my own TV show.” OK, sounds positive, but is it? However, it is negative because it is difficult and impractical. You want to avoid feelings of failure and disappointment. It is a case of being real.

8. Gut-Level Reasoning: For example, the belief that “I feel poor” becomes “I am poor.” You accept a feeling as absolute truth and begin believing it. Your bank account may show you have a small fortune there, but you don’t see or hear that.

9. Self-Downing: “I don’t have any self-control,” you say. You’re condemning yourself. Stop it. It is hard enough other putting us down; we don’t and must not do it to ourselves. You have the power to stop any self-doubt.

10. Poor Me thinking: This comes from feeling deprived or out of fear. For example, you have not had Fig Newtons for months and you love Fig Newtons. You begin to feel sorry for yourself. All you need to do is believe you can have Fig Newtons, occasionally, and still stay on budget.

There are some classic types on self-talking that may be sabotaging you. I hope you’ve recognized from this discussion that self-talk, when negative, is relentless, and can be highly destructive. If you’re demeaning yourself, your body, and your personal control, and your self-talk shows it, you’ll be compromised. Everyone criticizes themselves. Everyone has self-doubt. Everyone has anxiety. However, you don’t have to passively accept these messages. Challenge them and get your life under control.