Becoming Your Own Hype Person: Transforming Self-talk for Success
How often do you really focus on your own inner dialogue? When you spend a few minutes listening to how you talk to yourself, do you sound like you are talking to a dear friend or someone you can’t stand? We often pour so much of our energy into other people that we lose touch with who we really are. Then when we finally spend time listening to our internal dialogue, we are shocked at what we hear.
Neuroplasticity - the brain’s ability to create new pathways throughout our lives, provides hope for those seeking change. With high motivation and discipline, we can rewire our brains and make powerful changes. Creating new pathways can happen at any point in our lives. I am 59 years old and am proof that it is possible to transition from a life of depletion to one of endless growth by changing my go-to pathways.
I’ll never forget the moment when I felt utterly lost, not being able to identify a single quality I loved about myself. This realization left me in tears, showcasing just how disconnected I had become from who I am. As a wife to a successful executive, mother to four accomplished children and daughter to aging parents, I found myself stretched thin, with no energy left to nurture my own dreams and aspirations.
It was at this low point that I began paying close attention to my inner dialogue. I noticed my thoughts were dominated by negativity, constantly warning me of potential embarrassment or failure should I choose to take a chance on myself. This downward spiral lead to zero self confidence, pushing me to seek an alternative path that would take me out of my comfort zone.
Starting hypnotherapy marked the beginning of my journey to becoming my own hype person. My goal was simple: to shift my inner voice from one that kept me safe to one that uplifted, encouraged and believed in me. In just a few sessions, I began to notice a change in my thought patterns. To further reinforce this change, I developed a mantra: “I am a badass, and I can do whatever I set my mind to today!”
Reciting this mantra 5 times each and every morning before getting out of bed and 5 times before drifting off to sleep became part of my daily routine. I wrote my mantra on a sticky note and placed it on my bathroom mirror and in my car as a constant reminder of my potential. Whenever the familiar negative chatter attempted to creep back in, I would actively acknowledge it, shut it down and replace it with my mantra. As the weeks passed, my thought patterns continued to evolve, leaving behind self-imposed limitations and creating space for me to re-discover who I am. I can now tell you with joyful certainty the 3 qualities I love about myself, my compassion, my curiosity to keep learning and my ability to connect with other people in meaningful ways.
Driven by this new mindset, I went back to school to obtain my hypnosis and life coaching certifications. I launched a business centered around helping others through their own cycles of negativity, drawing on my personal experience to guide and inspire my clients.
Self talk matters. By listening to how we speak to ourselves, we gain valuable insight into the beliefs and narratives that shape our lives. It is through mindful awareness and disciplined practice that we can become our own cheerleader and transform our lives. So ask yourself: Am I ready to become my own hype person?
