Self-Talk
How do you speak to yourself?
I’ll have a go – it
doesn’t matter if I
get it wrong. This is
quite good actually!
You’re never going to
get this right. Oh no! I
hope no-one notices
what a bad job I’m
doing!
1. The brain doesn’t process
negatives
DON’T think of a
pink elephant!
The same happens with
anxieties
What we say…..
What the brain hears
'I don’t want to get fat'
• Fat!
'I hope I don’t mess this up'
• Mess this up!
'I must not fail this test'
• Fail!
Advertising
Advertisers know this and ‘implant’ messages
that go straight into our unconscious without us
questioning how they operate.
Can you think of any example of this?
Programming for success
Have you ever noticed how, if someone
says something to you for long enough,
eventually you begin to believe it?
'You’re lazy!' 'You’re the pretty one and she’s
the clever one' 'you’ll never go anywhere in
life'…….
others?
Programming your brain
You can also become the voice that
programmes your beliefs….
Try using some of these techniques…..
1. turn negatives into positives
2. Using confident phrasing
3. Avoiding negative ‘generalisations’
1. Turn a negative fear into a
positive hope….
What we say
What the brain hears
'I’m going to get slim and
healthy'
• Slim and healthy 
'I want to do a good job'
• Good job 
'I’m going to pass this test'
• Pass the test 
2. Use assertive ‘doing’ words
I hope to; I’ll try; I wish I could; I might
I’m going to; I will; I want to; I can
3. Question big general
statements
'I’m totally stupid'
'I’ll never get this'
'I’m bad at spelling'
'I feel bad'
What, at everything?
Never, ever?
What can you spell?
All the time?