LISTEN TO YOUR OWN SELF-TALK - PART II

On my last post I had promised you to continue with this subject, “Self-Talk”. As I have mentioned before, this is one of the biggest challenges people struggle with.

This time I want to focus on one of many ways of influence we are exposed to, “Media-Talk”. Some times I asked myself; self, why most people only focus on negative things? Well, when I see how much time people spend watching TV, listening radio news and reading the daily newspaper, I can’t help myself, but to say, that the main reason for all those negatives thoughts, focus and talks is how little people are aware of the influence of the “Media-Talk.”

Here is your assignment for the next seven days. Are you ready? Listen to what I call “media-Talk”. That’s the programming you are receiving from radio, television, the daily newspaper, magazines, etc. You will also hear and edited, and usually subjective, version of Media-talk when you listen to the self-talk of other people around you.

The important thing to remember while you are observing and collecting examples of Media-talk is how you respond to the Media-Talk programming you are receiving. Have you ever bought the brand of drink you saw advertised the most on TV?

The reason for this step is to acquaint you with something called “external influence.” We all know what it means, but we seldom sit down and think about the effect it has in our lives. Have you ever considered how many things you do because you felt obliged to do them?

The more aware you become of all of the persuasions and conditioning which go on in your life, the easier it will be for you to recognize them for what they are and do something about them. It is a healthy idea to stop now and then and ask yourself the question. “who’s in control here?” Once aware of how programming works and where it comes from, who do you suppose is responsible for what is programmed into your mind? You are, of course.

Once you are aware of the self-talk around you, both from others and from yourself, it is only natural that you might want to take personal control over the self-talk in your future. The next step is to begin creating Self-Talk for yourself.