Not enough weight is given to the power of our words, when we speak to ourselves. That internal voice we hear, when we're mulling over a new idea or challenge, when we're watching a TV show/movie, when we're responding to an email before we actually respond in writing.
The power of our words counts for so much.
I'm sure you can remember a moment where someone you loved and valued in your life might have said something to you that made you feel invincible or made you feel like you'd hit rock bottom.
And so it is with our self-talk. How we speak to ourselves accounts for our mindset, for the goals we set ourselves, and whether we even believe we can actually achieve them. I can confidently say that I was in the fixed mindset camp for most of my life. It wasn't until 2017 when I really started moving toward the growth mindset end of the spectrum. And even then, it was a still a struggle.
For so long, I told myself that I wasn't enough. Not explicitly, with those words. But I was always searching. Searching for something that would make me feel whole, less lonely, happier with who I was and where I was in my life. Seeking validation from others before I felt comfortable enough to offer my own ideas or opinions to the group. It took a long time to realize that I was already enough. It was only the words that convinced me otherwise. And once I realized that I was enough, I began to move differently. Feel differently. I took risks. I challenged myself. I patted myself on the back. I started two businesses. I created programs and workbooks and frameworks and helped others in achieving their goals.
My mindset changed and soon enough, so did my life.
So in what ways are you stifling your growth? What is one limiting belief that you find yourself saying very often - either through words or actions? And now that you've identified that belief, what will you be replacing it with?
Share your reflections below and let us know where your growth will start.
All the best,
Yvonne
I used to feel no one wants to listen to me, so I stopped speaking up. I also used to feel like I wasnt good at speaking at all. But eventually, I realized that I was wrong and that I am actually good at speaking, not because of the languages I use, but because I always speak from my heart. When I figured this out and embraced it, I decided to speak again and this allowed me to help not only myself, but other people, as well.
The fear of failing has been a huge obstacle for me over the years. Growing up, I can remember times that I told those close to me my dreams and goals. I even went as far as to tell them the reasoning behind why I wanted to do whatever goal I had in mind. To my dismay, they were sometimes met with such cynical backlash, and reasons why it wouldn't come to fruition, that made me feel stuck and unsupported. I learned to suppress the idea of sharing my thoughts and kept them to myself. I now realize that I developed a fixed mindset as I worried about who will have what to say, and how those words could possibly discourage me.
I am still a dreamer, but have been very hesitant to share what I have going on as I don't have all the answers on how to make them reality. The explanation of Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset, has ignited something in me for sure. I also see myself adapting the concept of failing forward, and putting effort to learning as much as I can. This has left me very inspired and I will be referring to this article frequently - Thank you!
☺️
Coach Yvonne, I can relate. I used to feel incomplete and not good enough. It wasn't until I started to believe in myself which came from a mindset shift that I made the change. The more we know, the more we can grow :)