Negative Messaging...

You want to be successful. Close your eyes and envision your dream life! Now ask yourself, can you make it come true? You already know what it is going to take to achieve your goals; the only thing you now need is to cultivate the ability to take consistent action.

You must have noticed that, in your head, you are continually talking to yourself. There is a lot of power in positive thinking, but equally powerful is the vice-like grip of negative messaging that you may be giving yourself.

Every personality is a manifestation of nature, nurture and experiences. Your natural instincts are often overshadowed by negative messaging that is set-off by this conditioning, as also by the fear of non-conformance. Over a period of time, you get accustomed to inaction.

Here’s a short story

“Eight monkeys are put in a cage. In the middle of the room is a stool, leading to a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on the ceiling. Outside the cage, an observer has a hose filled with ice water. Within a few minutes, one monkey climbs on the stool to get the bananas. This effort is rewarded immediately with an ice cold shower for all of the monkeys. Several minutes later, another monkey tries, with the same result. Each time a monkey tries to climb the stool all the monkeys are sprayed with ice water, which makes them miserable. Soon enough, whenever a monkey attempts to climb the stool, all of the other monkeys, not wanting to be sprayed, set upon him and beat him up.

The monkeys quickly learn the relationship between 'get on the stool' and 'an ice cold shower', and choose a way to protect themselves.

One of the original monkeys is then removed, and a new monkey is put in the room. Seeing the bananas and the stool, he wonders why none of the other monkeys are doing the obvious. But undaunted, he immediately begins to climb the stool. All the other monkeys fall upon him and beat him. He has no idea why. However, he no longer attempts to climb the stool. A second original monkey is removed and replaced. The newcomer again attempts to climb the stool, but all the other monkeys beat him up. This includes the previous new monkey, who, grateful that he's not on the receiving end this time, participates in the beating because all the other monkeys are doing it. However, he has no idea why he's attacking the new monkey.

One by one, all the original monkeys are replaced. Eight new monkeys are now in the cage. None of them have ever been sprayed by ice water. None of them attempt to climb the stool. All of them will beat up any new monkey who tries, without having any idea why.”

This is how negative messaging breeds inaction...

Avoid negative messaging. You can change your negative self-talk simply by being conscious of it. Whenever you notice a negative message, consciously change it for a positive message. Your strengths are your assets, appreciate them and use them. Work towards overcoming your weaknesses; get help if needed. Learn to separate real threats from perceived threats. Move on!