Celebrate Change

Speech is the image of mind. Therefore to change his mind, man must first change his speech. By speech we mean those mental conversations we carry on within ourselves. The world is a magic circle of infinite possible mental transformations, for there are an infinite number of possible mental conversations we can have with ourselves.  

— Neville Goddard

You may have seen athletes step up to the starting line, talking to themselves—“You’ve got this,” “Let’s go,” “Fast and easy.” Far from thinking they are crazy, we immediately understand the power of this self-talk for driving exceptional performance. Also, consider the opposite—we’ve never seen a champion step up to the starting line muttering, “I suck,” “It’s not my day,” “There’s no way.”

As Neville describes above, our constant stream of self-talk—though seldom discussed or even thought about—is tremendously powerful in shaping our long-term ROCKET Goals as well as our day-to-day performance.

There are many avenues and habits we can work on to effect change, but nothing is a more powerful lever for change than changing our own inner self-talk. As you begin to master this skill of deliberate self-talk, the changes will feel infinitely magical.

1). Start Listening to Yourself  
Like a fish trying to describe water, we may not be fully aware of how we talk to ourselves. Start by spending some time reflecting and/or journaling about the language and feelings you use internally.

2). Master Your Own Verbal Tricks  
As you start listening to yourself more closely, you might be in for a surprise! Over the years, we all develop a bag of verbal tricks and routines to navigate life’s complexities. Some of these self-affirmations are positive—like the athlete stepping up to the podium—“You’ve got this,” “This will work out,” “It’s going to be a good day.” But other phrases we routinely lean on can cut the other way—“I never seem to catch a break,” “I’ve never been able to succeed at x, y, or z,” “He or she doesn’t really like me,” “Things always go wrong at the last minute,” etc. Learn to question these negative self prophecies, and ask yourself how this time can be different. That is what Celebrating Change is all about!

3). Banish Chicken Little  
An especially important character to watch out for is Chicken Little. At some point, we’ve all felt like the sky is falling. During those times, there is a little voice—or loud voice—leading the chant that everything is hopeless and nothing can change. You must learn to grab the microphone of world-ending self-talk away from Chicken Little and stop that catastrophic newsfeed, no matter how legitimately stressful your situation might be. This doesn’t mean to go into a state of denial, but instead, learn to cut off the corrosive negative chatter and get to work on constructive change making!

4). Engage in Dialogues with Your Future Self  
Take a moment to imagine your future self—the person you aspire to become in 1, 5, or even 20 years. Engage in a mental dialogue with this future version of yourself. Ask questions and listen to the responses. What phrases and words do they use to describe themselves?  What advice does your future self have for you? How does this future version of you handle challenges, celebrate victories, and maintain a positive mindset? By regularly conversing with your future self, you create a powerful connection between your present actions and long-term goals, making your aspirations feel more tangible and achievable.

5). Create a Self-Talk Sanctuary  
Designate a specific time and place each day where you can practice intentional self-talk. This “self-talk sanctuary” could be a quiet corner of your home, a peaceful spot in nature, or even a few minutes during your daily commute. In this sanctuary, immerse yourself in positive affirmations, gratitude, and visualization exercises. Treat this time as sacred, a moment to recharge your mental batteries and align your inner dialogue with your highest aspirations. By creating a ritual around self-talk, you ensure that it becomes a consistent and transformative part of your daily routine.

Conclusion
Changing your self-talk is a transformative process that can profoundly impact your life. By listening to yourself, mastering your verbal habits, controlling negative thoughts, engaging in dialogues with your future self, and creating a self-talk sanctuary, you can learn to harness the power of your words to drive change.

As Neville Goddard suggests, your internal mental conversations shape your reality. Embrace this power and watch as your life aligns with your most cherished aspirations.