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Self-Talk :
Talking Ourselves Out of Stress

"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug known to mankind."
Rudyard Kipling

Want to start putting an end to work stress? Start noticing your self-talk. Notice your language today. Are you using words or phrases like "I should, I have to, I better...."?

Whether you think this way or speak this way, you are sending messages to yourself (and others) about your lack of personal power. Our language is not arbitrary. Research suggests that even “joking” about ourselves is picked up by the subconscious as truth. So saying aloud, “Gosh, I’m such a klutz!” is confirming your clumsiness as a sure thing in the near future.

Even worse are phrases called “Dead Enders.” This is a way of talking to yourself that puts off changing for the better or any positive growth so quickly it needs some special emphasis:

“That's just the way I am.""I'm not a morning person.""That's life."

Working at eliminating this type of response permanently wouldn't be the worst goal!

Also look at your “Makes Me” self-talk. ” Makes me" is an example of un-self-responsible language.

"Janet makes me so mad.""Dogs make me nervous.""He makes me uncomfortable."

So watch your language this week. It really does make a difference in productivity and is key to managing stress levels. Remember the quote “We first make our habits, then our habits make us.” This is a powerful realization. Our thoughts are habits (sometimes called “scripts”), but they are habits we created.

That means we can break them too.