Stop Holding Yourself Back


Try this exercise. Take a sheet of paper and list down all the emotions you can think of? Take a couple of minutes and if possible, keep writing for as long as you can? Come on, do it. I'll still be here when you get back.

Now, take your list and go back over what you wrote and give each of those emotions a listing out of 10 (one for weakest, ten for strongest) based on how strongly you have personally felt each of them.

Just a clue, the ones you wrote down first will probably rate higher. If it took you two minutes of fairly dedicated thinking to come up with an emotion, you've probably never really felt that particular emotion very strongly. And by the way fellas, there are more than two emotions?.

Next, if necessary, go through your list and put them in order of strength with the strongest at the top and the weakest (the ones) at the bottom.

Once you have done that, answer this question:

How far down the list did you have to go before you came to an emotion that usually has a positive spin on it?

Many of the people I try this exercise with find that it is not until the third or fourth one on their list that they come to an emotion that usually has a positive slant. How about you???

No wonder researchers show that 95% of your self-talk is negative!

Once you become aware of that, you are a large part of the way to being able to change it.

But why would you want to change it?

After all, you've come this far in life with a whole lot of negative self talk.

But that's just the point. If you got this far with all that negative feedback, just imagine how much more you can achieve if that negativity stopped, or at least was reduced.

But it's important for you to realise that in order to turn off the flow of negative thoughts and turn on the flow of positive thoughts and self talk will take some time, some effort, some commitment, some discipline.

And its not something you can do for just a few minutes a day. Its something you need to work on all the time.

It's a bit like dieting, or exercise. You can't do two minutes of exercise every now and then and hope to achieve any improvement in your fitness level.

Nor can you have a healthy breakfast then "pig out" on greasy foods for the rest of the day and expect to lose any weight.

There is any number of different exercises you can undertake to change your self talk from negative to positive. We will look at one or two shortly. You may find others that suit you better. But they all have one thing in common. Each of the exercises has as its basis the replacement of all the negative images, or bits of information you have stored in your subconscious with positive ones.

With all of these exercises you will need to exercise some personal discipline.

The world in which we live seems fascinated by bad news. No doubt you have heard it said that 'bad news sells'. Good news, apparently does not sell, at least not newspapers.

And bad news produces more bad news as each tries to top someone else's disaster with their own"you think that's something, wait till you hear what happened to?" (you can almost hear echoes of the Monty Python Yorkeshiremen's skit?"Shoes, you war looky?. ")

It's as if we need to find some justification, some excuse for feeling the way we do.

And why do we feel the way we do?

Because that little voice in our heads keeps up a constant stream, telling us how stupid, how dumb, how clumsy, how hopeless we really are.

Absolutely everything you have ever experienced through your sense gates is sitting there in your subconscious, just waiting for the time when it can be used in answer to one of the questions, one of the requests for information your conscious mind gives to the subconscious. It's there, It cannot be deleted. But it can be diluted, even swamped.

What I mean by that is one way you can lessen the negative self talk is to fill your life with positive material. No, I'm not suggesting you live in some unreal utopian existence that has no basis in reality. Rather, I am suggesting you choose, quite deliberately the material you experience.

So, rather than watching the nightly news service,

read a biography of a famous person, particularly if that person overcame some sort of adversity to make something of themselves.

Listen to or read some self development materials.

Listen to your favourite music.

There is any number of videos that put magnificent still life photos and nature videos to music. Buy and watch some. You will be surprised how healing it can be.

These are just a few ideas to get you thinking in the right direction. You can probably come up with a whole lot moreideas that suit you, simply by asking your subconscious the question "What positive things can I do, can I read, can I listen to that will be enjoyable enough that I will want to keep doing them?" And give your subconscious some time to come up with answers to that question.

Will that change your life?

You'd better believe it.

Graham Hunt is the founder of Prentis Carpenter Center, an organisation established to resource an environment where people who so desire can discover and fulfill their potential. One way in which Graham is doing that is through is website at http://www.higher-self-esteem-site.com/ Drop by anytime.





Latest News:



Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news
Sarah Palin docu wins record ratings for Fox News (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
In a week of records surrounding the Republican National Convention, Fox News Channel earned another one with its weekend documentary on vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. MySpace ad business ahead of target: News Corp (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
News Corp's (NWSa.N) MySpace advertising business is operating ahead of expectations and its digital ad business is performing better than the marketplace, the company's chief operating officer said on Tuesday. DGAP-News: Northwest Oil & Gas Trading Company, Inc.: Acquisition of a promising gas project (n-tv.de)
Release of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a company of EquityStory AG. The issuer / publisher is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. News that counts: Editors' Picks for Wednesday from The PD (The Plain Dealer)
The news is strictly by the numbers today:  4 The four big-league presidential/vice presidential candidates roamed Ohio Tuesday, coming within 28 miles of one another. We count the visits so far -- Barack Obama, eight; John McCain, 11.  8... For consumers, good news down the line (Sun-Sentinel)
Whether you buy a new iPod or not, there may be good news for you in Apple's release of new iPods on Tuesday . False bankruptcy item highlights risks in online news (Market Watch)
Investors are getting a fresh lesson in the power and perils of lightning-fast news on the Web in an already fast-moving market. Relief: Cubs get good news on Zambrano, Harden (ESPN)
The Cubs received encouraging news on pitchers Rich Harden and Carlos Zambrano on Tuesday. Petraeus to Brief FOX News on Final Battlefield Tour (Fox News)
Gen David Petraeus, fresh off an announcement that thousands of U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Iraq, will give his final U.S. interview to FOX News Wednesday before handing over control of U.S.-led forces in Iraq to Gen. Raymond Odierno next week. Brooklyn elevators among city's worst, News finds (New York Daily News)
They break down constantly and don't get fixed for weeks. Others are filled with the sour stench of dried-up urine. Elevators at public housing developments across Brooklyn are among the worst in the city, found a Daily News survey of 36 projects. Yahoo News Redesign May Pull a Technorati ? Why Not Twitter? (Wired News)
Bloggers have uncovered URLs for a new Yahoo News layout which includes a ?Most Blogged? section. The list is presumably based off Buzz Tracker, which displays related blog posts and those that link back to an article. But wouldn't a "Twittered About" section make the site seem more cutting-edge?

Site: news - Google News
Staunton News Leader lays off 10, cuts 5 positions - CNNMoney.com

Staunton News Leader lays off 10, cuts 5 positions
CNNMoney.com - 8 hours ago
NEW YORK (Associated Press) - The News Leader has laid off 10 employees and eliminated five vacant positions. The Staunton newspaper announced Tuesday's ...
News roundup: Automakers plead for cash; Mumbai attackers used ... - USA Today

Voice of America

News roundup: Automakers plead for cash; Mumbai attackers used ...
USA Today - 16 hours ago
Without federal assistance, General Motors and Chrysler say they "could collapse" by the new year, according to the Detroit Free Press. ...
Big Three bankruptcy?...Productivity slows...Electric cars ... KXMC
Quick news updates by e-mail Dayton Daily News
AP Top News at 4:00 pm EST The Associated Press
CBS News - FOXNews
all 3,315 news articles
paidContent.org - UK Round-Up: Google Ads; Amazon MP3; News Corp's ... - Washington Post

paidContent.org - UK Round-Up: Google Ads; Amazon MP3; News Corp's ...
Washington Post, United States - 4 hours ago
Google turns to hard alcohol, relaxing ad rules in January: Here's one for the New Year hangover? Google (NSDQ: GOOG), whose UK ad income has plateaued in ...
Health Buzz: Sleep Breaks for Medical Residents and Other Health News - U.S. News & World Report

InjuryBoard.com

Health Buzz: Sleep Breaks for Medical Residents and Other Health News
U.S. News & World Report, DC - 13 hours ago
Residents working in hospitals for the maximum 30-hour shift should get a five-hour break for sleep after working 16 hours, according to a new ...
More sleep, not less work, for medical residents USA Today
all 316 news articles
News from meeting of United Auto Workers - USA Today

ABC News

News from meeting of United Auto Workers
USA Today - 11 hours ago
This just in from the Associated Press: "United Auto Workers to delay automakers' payments to health care trust, restart contract talks. ...
Video: UAW Offers Help To Big Three CBS
News Minute: Auto worker concessions...Auto warning...Wal-Mart ... KVOA.com
AP Top News at 12:42 pm EST The Associated Press
WKBT - WKOW-TV.com
all 1,584 news articles
Online Money: Fidelity expands online news focus - The Associated Press

The Associated Press

Online Money: Fidelity expands online news focus
The Associated Press - 25 minutes ago
BOSTON (AP) ? Fidelity Investments is joining the rush to satisfy investors' growing appetite for news about financial market turmoil. ...
Good news for Bay Area retailers all weekend - San Francisco Chronicle

Boston Globe

Good news for Bay Area retailers all weekend
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 21 hours ago
Despite trepidation that grim economic news would derail spending, a barrage of bargains lured consumers to open their wallets on what's been dubbed Black ...
Downtown merchants optimistic despite economic bad news Boerne Star
Networks Darken 'Black Friday' Business Media Institute
A Green Day For Black Friday WGRZ-TV
MLive.com - WDEF News 12
all 1,424 news articles
Hayes' Blog: ND Nation not celebrating Weis news - Chicago Sun-Times

FOXSports.com

Hayes' Blog: ND Nation not celebrating Weis news
Chicago Sun-Times, United States - 6 hours ago
BY NEIL HAYES Staff Reporter It has been a tough couple years for Notre Dame fans, perhaps the toughest in the program's storied history, and today's's ...
Shanoff's Wake-Up Call: ND Keeps Weis, Really? SportingNews.com
all 1,049 news articles
Stocks Close Up, Despite Economic News - Forbes

Stocks Close Up, Despite Economic News
Forbes, NY - 6 hours ago
The market righted itself for good around 2 pm in New York, after the Federal Reserve released the Beige Book for its Dec. 16 monetary policy meeting. ...
Advertiser cuts 51 more positions Pacific Business News (Honolulu) - Bizjournals.com

Advertiser cuts 51 more positions Pacific Business News (Honolulu)
Bizjournals.com, NC - 2 hours ago
The Honolulu Advertiser is cutting 51 positions from its staff in the fourth round of buyouts or layoffs at the newspaper in 16 months. ...

MORE RESOURCES:
Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for motivation
ND's Weis gives Wolverines motivation (Post-Tribune)

SOUTH BEND -- It's impossible to get through a Notre Dame-Michigan game without a little artificially induced motivation. Buckeye finds motivation plentiful for season opener (The Alexandria Town Talk)

DEVILLE -- Some teams have to search for motivation to play a game. The Buckeye Panthers actually have a choice when it comes to preparing for their meeting with the St. Mary's Tigers. Charges of political motivation spice up debate at city council (The Sun Chronicle)

ATTLEBORO - Take tight city finances, throw in charges of political motivation and add an impending primary election and you have a formula for a bitter and explosive debate - and that's what happened Tuesday on the city council floor. Motivation easy to find for Southern (The Joplin Globe)

Motivation won?t be a problem for Missouri Southern in Saturday night?s MIAA opener at No. 7 Pittsburg State.?It?s going to be a great atmosphere,? Lions running back Toderick Hunt said. ?A lot of people, the adrenaline is going to be pumping. I know for me when it?s like that, that?s when I perform the best because it?s time to go. It?s time to go.?A sold-out Carnie Smith Stadium likely will be ... Get some motivation to move this fall (Delaware Coast Press)

Summer is winding down and coming to a close. Life seems to pick up pace at lightening speed as soon as September arrives. Vacation time has ceased, the kids are back in school, and -- whether it makes you happy or sad -- bathing suit season is just about over. Haug: Spa will only boost motivation. (Crash.net)

Mercedes-Benz motorsport chief admits that the disappointment of Spa will only drive McLaren on. Buttle calls it quits (Fort Frances Times)

By admin Thursday, 11 September 2008 - 2:35pm. TORONTO?At a time when many Canadian athletes are finding motivation in the allure of competing at the Vancouver Olympics, Jeffrey Buttle found his desire to skate for gold on home turf just wasn?t there. Sharon Little has a lot of determination and motivation to perform (The Kansas City Star)

Tragedy inspired the perseverance that led Sharon Little to music. “I was never really into popular music or popular culture growing up,” said Little, a Philadelphia native and the fourth of seven children. On Soccer: Dynamo reassess game with Quakes (Houston Chronicle)

Having won six of their last seven games, the Western Conference-leading Dynamo have plenty of success from which to draw motivation ahead of this weekend?s match against the Earthquakes in Santa Clara, Calif. By Fr. Emeterio Barcelon, SJ (Manila Bulletin)

NETWORKING is now used for marketing, manufacturing, for communicating down and up loading, for political information and motivation, for preaching the Gospel. A real trend is interactive echoing of what has been given, for commentary, better understanding, and socializing. Site: motivation - Google News
Pistons' Wallace uses technical foul as motivation - The Associated Press

Washington Post

Pistons' Wallace uses technical foul as motivation
The Associated Press - 20 hours ago
Sometimes he even uses them as motivation. After being hit with a technical with 15 minutes remaining, Wallace scored 17 points, including three 3-pointers ...
Iverson, Wallace lead Pistons past Spurs SportingNews.com
all 409 news articles
Facing Raiders on national TV will serve as motivation Thursday - San Diego Union Tribune

Facing Raiders on national TV will serve as motivation Thursday
San Diego Union Tribune, CA - Dec 2, 2008
And while they technically do, they also are searching for other reasons to be up for Thursday night's game against Oakland (and the three that follow it), ...
The San Diego Chargers Lack Motivation to Win - Bleacher Report

The San Diego Chargers Lack Motivation to Win
Bleacher Report, CA - 3 hours ago
But AJ Smith either forgot or never actually considered that even though you're dealing with professional players, man management and motivation are key ...
SDSU FOOTBALL: Faulk getting involved in search North County Times
all 2 news articles
Dawgs digging deep to find last-game motivation - Seattle Post Intelligencer

Dawgs digging deep to find last-game motivation
Seattle Post Intelligencer - Dec 1, 2008
Finding motivation figures to be a challenge for a squad coming off a 16-13 double-overtime loss in its rivalry game. Willingham insisted he won't use his ...
UW to get close look at Jeff Tedford Seattle Times
all 17 news articles
Thousands descend on Austin Convention Center for motivation seminar - KVUE

Thousands descend on Austin Convention Center for motivation seminar
KVUE, TX - Dec 2, 2008
By QUITA CULPEPPER Organizers say it's a way to get inspired and find the secret to your success, while hearing from a dream team of successful politicians ...
Austin businesspeople seek motivation in hard times - Austin American-Statesman

Austin businesspeople seek motivation in hard times
Austin American-Statesman, TX - Dec 2, 2008
By Lori Hawkins When Gregg Linberg heard an ad touting an upcoming daylong motivational seminar, he decided it was just what he and his co-workers at ...
Barry reveals England motivation - SkySports

SkySports

Barry reveals England motivation
SkySports - Dec 2, 2008
By Chris Burton Last updated: 2nd December 2008 Gareth Barry admits that four years in the international wilderness made him all the more determined to earn ...
Frankly, OU has no reason to apologize - Tulsa World

MiamiHerald.com

Frankly, OU has no reason to apologize
Tulsa World, OK - 21 hours ago
"So I think it might give us a little extra motivation." The negative backlash the Sooners have felt ever since Sunday's announcement that they had edged ...
AandM plays for pride, UT for BCS shot San Antonio Express
COLLEGE SPORTS OPINION: Is Pettigrew still not good enough? (12/2) News Enterprise
Debate?s over: It?s your move now, Mack Muskogee Daily Phoenix
Enid News & Eagle - CollegeHoopsnet.com
all 2,160 news articles
"Keep the Mo": Daily Motivation Builds Momentum - Exchange Morning Post

"Keep the Mo": Daily Motivation Builds Momentum
Exchange Morning Post, Canada - 15 hours ago
While most leaders believe motivation is the key to any organization's success, many struggle to keep their people motivated on daily basis. ...
Too Much Commitment May Be Unhealthy For Relationships, Professor Says - Science Daily (press release)

Too Much Commitment May Be Unhealthy For Relationships, Professor Says
Science Daily (press release) - Dec 2, 2008
RCSE is one of the research areas being explored by Knee and UH's Interpersonal Relations and Motivation Research Group (IRMRG). ...
Home | Site Map | Resource Links