Remedies for Negative Self-Talk – That Suck the Life Out of You and Your Business
Entrepreneurs – especially women – get into business to provide value, make money and have fun in the process. And everything we read, hear and see convinces us that we made the right choice. But the part that’s rarely discussed is the “dark side” of entrepreneurship.
What I mean by that is the isolation we feel, or spending too much time looking at what others are doing and losing yourself in the process, and the stress of external voices questioning when you are finally going to make it.
You can’t ignore the dark side, however, there are much healthier ways to address these issues so you can move forward.
My business girlfriend Laura West, founder of Center for Joyful Business shares tools that I just love for creating awareness and shifting your energy quickly. The following suggestions come from an article she wrote on this topic:
- Morning and Evening Journaling – This doesn’t have to involve pages of witty writing. A simple list of what’s happening and how you feel will do. This reminds you to check in with your mindset, thoughts and emotions. Creating awareness of what’s going on for you twice a day will reinforce the importance of checking in with yourself. The awareness alone will create shifts in your energy and ability to shift into a more life-enhancing place if you need to.
- Conscious Breathing – Whenever you notice that you feel anxious and the gremlin is having a chat party inside, just the simple act of breathing consciously can help shift your energy. Consciously and in a relaxed way (not forced) – breathe in to receive, and breathe out to release.
- Exercise – Ask your body what it really needs. My body needs exercise, stretching and movement every day. Just moving your body will move your energy and get you out of your mind and back into your body so you can access all of you – not just your relentless analytic side.
- Guided Visualizations – I find sitting in quiet meditation difficult, so I’m a big fan of guided visualizations. I have all different types loaded on my iPod. I will often take a break in the middle of the afternoon and listen to my angels, take a guided imagery walk to my favorite peaceful location, or just relax listening to positive affirmations about my body. It’s enough to shift my energy and reconnect to my creativity and that possibility-energy.
- Business Girlfriends – Science says that women connecting to other women releases oxytocin. This feels good! Know which business girlfriends you can give a “911-call” who will let you share your gremlin thoughts. You’ll feel good releasing, you get great chemicals to support a feel-good mood, and your friend will let you know how fabulous you really are. A true win-win. Just make sure it’s a supportive friend who understands you, and you can reciprocate!
I love these suggestions! Please share what works for you when you’re confronted by negative self-talk.
FYI – This is such an important topic so Laura and I are going to host a special call on July 13th – Candid Talk: The Conversations We DON’T Have but NEED to Have About Our Business and Life. We will open up the phone lines for an interactive dialogue between business girlfriends about the truth of what’s going on, and collaboratively what we can do to make some changes.
This call is for members of the GET IT DONE Action Club. If you’re not a member yet, you can learn more about how to receive the inspiration and how-to tips you need to move your business (and life) forward.
Tags: Business Girlfriends, Conscious Breathing, Guided Visualizations, Laura West, Negative Self Talk
