When I was a kid I walked to school (elementary and junior high) every day with my neighbor; she was a year older than me and her brother was a year older than her. We’d kick a pinecone or a rock all the way, and generally chatter about whatever was on our minds. The thing that bothered me about this girl was the fact she always only had negative things to say about herself, or her hair, or her outfit, or her intelligence, or her body, or really anything. I don’t know if it was her brother teasing her or really why she picked herself apart in such a negative way, but it will always stay with me as a way I don’t want to treat myself.
I’m quick to point out to my clients that negative self talk such as this has no place in an exercise program. None.
When you start exercising, or start nearly any new challenge, you are in charge of your outlook. If the voice in your head is criticizing what you are doing, I must ask you—why are you exercising? If you are exercising to lose weight, but are doing so with a negative voice in your head, what happens when you lose the weight? Will you replace the negative self talk with positive? What is the point of the negative words? How will you know when to start the transfer into positive self talk?
How about changing from negative talk to positive talk RIGHT NOW.
When it comes to learning how to speak positively to yourself about your effort and your results, ask yourself: if you were to say some of that aloud or if you heard your son or daughter say those words to themselves, would you encourage those words or would you try to change them?
If it’s negative words you hear when you speak to yourself, stop that voice. You aren’t exercising to discourage yourself. Stop the negative self talk. Change it to positive and encouraging words you say to yourself!
You are out there, trying. You are doing something by choice to improve your health and fitness. You are working to support your body, and in turn have your body support you. You will come closer to every goal you set for yourself with each day you show up and put forth the effort. That right there is worth a pat on the back.
Fitness is not a goal that is ever truly achievable; one can always be stronger, or faster, or quicker, or more limber. That’s part of the fun! But with negative talk crowding your brain, you are finished before you begin. Celebrate yourself and your achievements, large or small, when you exercise.
High fives for you!
It took me nearly 10 years to shake the negative voice out of my head. It was put there (by society but also) by a soccer coach I had. He used the “nothing you do will ever be good enough” method of “motivation”.
Now I exercise to enjoy that fact that I can! (and the sunshine, I am apparently part plant)