Internal Dialogue

Think of your head as your attic.  If we ignore the sounds (inner dialogue) that upset us, frighten us, or tell us, “You’re not going to succeed anyway, so go ahead and eat an entire box of cookies,” we will be paralyzed and never reach our goals.  What we’re going to do is go up there, fight whatever monsters we find, and clean it out. We’re going to keep the good stuff and throw out the bad. In simple terms, we’re going to change the things we say to ourselves so that we move closer and closer to our goals.  We’re going to replace negative inner dialogue with positive inner dialogue.

Try this test…

Never think of Green, don’t think of Green, don’t ever think of Green… you can’t think of Green… you shouldn’t think of Green… Green is bad for you.

This is the same thing we do when we are on a Diet and talk about Cookies or Brownies. The don’ts will get ya!!

Write Correct Dialogue:

Not Green –

Out Loud Self talk

 I can have anything within moderation and I am an adult and can have my cake first. I choose to have the wedding cake and champagne at the wedding this weekend.  I will add more exercise to my plan so that I don’t feel bad as this is part of my Plan and not a slip up or a negative thing. It’s balance baby!!

Positive Inner Dialogue

Inner Dialogue is very much like Visualization, only now instead of using the power of our visual imagination, we’re going to take control of the dialogue that occurs in our heads ⎯ the things we tell ourselves.  Also like Visualization, Positive Inner Dialogue is a powerful weapon against anything blocking your path to success. If you practice it, and practice it habitually, positive outcomes are unavoidable.

When we say the word “dialogue,” most of us think of lines movie characters speak or words between quotation marks in books. That’s absolutely true, but even more, dialogue is a tool that screenwriters and authors use.  And they use it for good reason. Of course it keeps the viewer or reader from being bored out of their mind, but the main reason writers use it is to move the story in the direction they wants it to go⎯and most importantly, it reveals vital information about the character.  Much of how we feel and think about a character is based on what he says and what others say about him or her. Just as writers use dialogue as a tool, we’re going to use inner dialogue as a weapon against your monsters⎯we’re going to move your story in the direction you want it to go and reveal the character that YOU want to be!

First, we have to be aware of the stream of words in the foreground and background of our minds.  We have to pay close attention to the words we say to ourselves and identify how they undermine our progress.  Then we’re going to change the dialogue by talking to ourselves in a manner that brings us closer and closer to our weight loss and fitness goals.  

So you come out of the store, feeling better than ever, and then BOOM!  There it is…the enticing, haunting aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls.  The evil scent is a monster. You feel it pulling you in. The voice in your head goes to work:  I really shouldn’t. Well, just one. I’ve earned it. But I’ve come so far. One won’t hurt. You’re paralyzed, thinking about placing your order.  It’s time for a decision. What do you do?

  • Eat the hell out of some cinnamon rolls?
  • Order just one?
  • Turn and run?
  • Walk confidently away with a spring in your step, while in wearing the sexy new shoes you just bought?

Imagining yourself in situations like this is great visualization practice as well as an amazing way to keep you focused on the perfect you.  Try to imagine yourself in all kinds of situations that you encounter on a daily basis. Or if you want to get really creative, imagine yourselves in places and situations that you might not experience frequently, but you’d like to!

Practice what you will say and do to get you out of the situation.