Self-Talk of a Winner
Posted by Orrin Woodward on March 9, 2012
Imagine if it was possible to play back your last twenty-four hours of self-talk on this blog. How many would be horrified in the contemplation? Unfortunately, I have found that most people are more concerned with revealing their rampant negativity than the truth of the pessimistic spirit nurtured within them.
The Bible clearly teaches that people will battle against the fiery darts of the evil one; however, that doesn’t mean they have to start a bonfire of cynicism. Personally, when a negative thought passes through my brain, I immediately respond by replacing it with an empowering perspective on the situation. This isn’t always easy. In fact, sometimes the answer is to surrender to God’s will, letting God be God and (paraphrasing Martin Luther) the ruined sinner be a ruined sinner.
When potential leaders allow improper thoughts to become book-length mental maladies, they arrest their own personal development. Simply put, winners cannot afford pity parties. Nor do they allow themselves the luxury of self-appointed victimhood status. I cover this in-depth in Chapter Three of RESOLVED: 13 Resolutions for LIFE.
Leaders set goals, and the goals ensure that the leaders reject pity parties of negativity. J. C. Penney opined, “Give me a stock clerk with a goal, and I’ll give you a man who will make history. Give me a man with no goals, and I’ll give you a stock clerk.” I believe similarly: Give me a broke person with a great attitude, and I will show you a future leader who will make history. Give me a leader who initiates a pity party, and I will show you a future broke person who will go nowhere.”
Success is in mind before it’s in matter. Have you experienced this crucial victory yet? I love this little girl’s self-talk. Simply put, if she continues with this thinking, she is on her way to success!
Sincerely, Orrin Woodward
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg]
15 Responses to “Self-Talk of a Winner”
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Dave Johnson said
She got me excited! We do become what we think about and this young lady is going to have a GREAT day today – and you can too!!!!!
Maribel Damphousse said
This is one area that I need to develop: the habit of a daily self-talk to overcome the negativity that simply infiltrate our minds knowingly or unknowingly because it had become so much of a habit. Your blogs serve as a reminder to be always on top of our transformation and change… living intetntionally for excellence! Thanks, Orrin and God bless!
CJ Calvert said
Orrin, thank you for your indefatigable effort in bringing a positive message to this community. I look forward to your blog updates and eagerly await your latest post. Your words are like high-performance fuel for our mental Ferrari.
Rob Crichlow said
We can all learn from Jessica! Daily affirmations … I really need to work on this better. I can remember many years ago listening to a talk by Chris Brady talking about his daily affirmation that he carried with him. Great message.
Robert Wilcox said
Awesome Orrin! Thank you for taking the time and sharing. The Habit of replacing the negative self-talk and replacing it with positive is a principle that many neglect or dont realize the impact it can have on your business relationships or just life in general. Thanks soo much for sharing!
Sue Lohr said
Last week I had a young man tell me he was “offended” by the first night pack. I told him I appreciated knowing that, and would he like to explain what offended him? He declined to elaborate. As I drove home, I started fuming at his remark. And then, I remembered you saying you allow yourself only a certain amount of time to beat yourself up, and then you go on.
I know – with absolute certainty – that the information from LIFE and Team is the very best. If this young man chose to be offended, then so be it. His inexperience was not going to ruin my day, nor sway my resolve. I gave myself 5 minutes (probably too long!) to stew about it, and then cheerfully continued to listen to the CD that was already playing in my car. Yes, it shut me up. I thank God, literally, for the Team and our changed lives.
Orrin Woodward said
Sue, the King was offended when the child yelled out that the King had no clothes on. People who deny their current reality are not happy when others expose them to truth. The good news is that many are looking for that same truth that offends others. thanks, Orrin
michaelcollinsleadership said
Orrin, great subject. In the past, before TEAM and LIFE, if someone talked to me the way I talked to me, well……. Now, I self talk glass half full(and rising) and when “darkness” creeps in, I have the tools to turn it around, FAST! 13 Resolutions is a great book, thanks, Michael Collins.
Paul Meyers said
I am always on the watch for negative self talk about myself so I can replace it with good stuff. I do so appreciate you sharing your thinking with us. I wanted also to comment on an item in your book about Frédéric Bastiat. I really love this guy after reading his essay “What Is Seen and What Is Not Seen”. It was right on the mark. Thanks for telling us about him. I used to hate history in school and now thanks to you I’m loving it.
Paul Meyers
Lisa Tonkinson said
It’s truly humbling to realize just how much I can learn from a child.
Jason Winkler said
Orrin, thank you for such a wonderful reminder to always look for our Blessings, not our Blamings and Blastings. Without the daily reminder of how to respond to evil attacks we have a tendency to forget how to protect ourselves. We always have loved the saying “Satan go back to hell, you are not welcome here any longer!” It is amazing when you confront him and reaffirm yourself in Christ, how much better your situation and day will go. Thank you for leading our country back to it’s roots, Jason and Chris Winkler
Jessica Suddeth said
Thank you so much for posting “Jessica’s Daily Affirmation”! Your blog and this video made me think of how negatively I talk to myself at times. I am a child of God and I believe in the power of words, so why do I speak words that will kill my spirit, rather than words of life? This is what we’ve been conditioned to, and we go about life every day like this and accept it. Well not any longer! I teach my kids about positive thinking and affirmation, but I have to lead by example in my own life. What I think is very interesting are the spoofs that were posted about Jessica’s Daily Affirmation on YouTube. The negativity displayed shows how were are taught as a people. I don’t want my children to grow up and believe that life is cruel and they have to settle for anything less than excellence. I feel sorry for those that believe this and continue to pray for their eyes to be opened. The principles and life changing materials we get through LIFE are just what the world needs!
Bill Eder said
Orrin: This makes me recall. ” And a little child shall lead them.”
This from theBasicInstructionBeforeLeavingEarth.
What a great collection of wisdom the scriptures give us. Thanks once again
wildtarg said
Wow, thanks Orrin. That was energizing!
I remember reading a book, Attitude is Everything by Jeff Keller, understanding the connection between perception, attitude, and self-talk, and getting a literal ‘feel’ for what it is like to consciously, willfully adjust one’s attitude. Like a little-used muscle, I found it mentally uncomfortable at first, but “repetition is the mother of skill”, and now I treat it like a practice drill – ‘I don’t like this, but I know it will help me get better.’
I remember a concept in aeronautics that made things much clearer for me. The term ‘attitude’ is used to describe the direction a craft is pointing relative to its direction of travel. When wind, rain, or snow push against an aircraft’s thrust, the pilot (get this) adjusts the attitude of the craft to keep it on course. Without these adjustments the craft would be pushed off course by the elements and not reach its destination. You illustrate something similar in LLR when you talk about course correction.
When I read Attitude is Everything I participated in a discussion group and had taken up a challenge put to me by my wife, who had grown tired of my onerous attitude and habitual opining about life. I had just completed the challenge, and I said basically this; In war, there is a lot going on. But there are certain key objectives or territories that, if taken and held, can provide great advantage. I believe that mastering one’s internal attitude is one of these key territories in the pursuit of excellence.
Keep going, we’re with you…
John hatchell said
Great stuff, being child like in thinking can always be the seed of success!!