We all want to do better, be better. We set goals, we hit them or we don’t.  When the latter happens, we search for a fix. Often times seeking a more ‘positive’ outlook is the path we take, thinking we just need to FEEL better and then we’ll naturally DO better.  Now, disclaimer, I am NO expert…unless its an expert on failing, then crown me if you will…

     Many will disagree and that’s OK, this of course, is simply my humble human opinion, and I have zero research to back it up other than, as Buzz Lehman states “my own meandering experience”. 

 I do not believe that mere positive self talk will change your life.  I DO believe that it can be a catalyst to move you toward changing your life,  but if you never move further than ‘positive self talk’ I wouldn’t expect a life altering epiphany.

The following is my reasoning, faulty or not, its mine and I stand by it. The premise behind PST (tired of typing out positive self talk) is that it will eventually change your thought patterns and allow you to see the good things in yourself and stop focusing on your faults.  I love that,  i want that! In my experience however, PST without a deep dive into your NST (negative self talk) will eventually become nothing more than an empty habit.  Until we are willing to explore WHY we have NST and understand its origins, its power and acknowledge it as more than just words, we can never engage in PST that will overpower the NST.

We are, by nature-I believe-, emotional beings. When we engage, consciously or not, in lots of NST, there’s an underlying reason.  Unless we are willing to experience the pain, and unsafe feeling of discovering WHY we do that; all the PST in the world will simply serve to mask the underlying themes that have ruled our emotions all these years.

Please don’t take this to mean that PST is worthless, it IS worth something. In order for it to make a lasting change though, in my opinion, it needs to be followed by self examination, and the willingness to be open with ourselves. Acknowledging what we find holds the probability that moving from here to there will likely require some blood,sweat, and lots of tears.  When we can move forward KNOWING and having faced, head on, our own emotional scars; then PST becomes less talk and more action.

Talk is talk is talk…positive or negative-it can most definitely affect our inner being.  However, it isn’t until talk becomes more…until it affects true change, physical, emotional, or spiritual,that it becomes action.  

So yes, practice PST, and then take the next step…pull out your emotional arsenal, face your reasons for needing it, and then you can begin to move past lip service, and enter life service.