Bill Nelson

Do you ever find the need to talk yourself up?

Hang on before you answer that, let me clarify that question a little more.

Do you ever find the need to talk yourself up, to just you?

You know those times when the confidence might not be at it's greatest. Those times when some more belief is needed. Situations when you need to just talk your way through why, what you are about to do will work.

Going out on a first date?
Doing your driving test?
Going for a job interview?
Running onto the field/court?
Presenting in public?

I suppose what I am talking about is not that you are walking around saying How good am I. But more about talking to yourself about How am I good?

Now, the first thing I think is important to point out is that there is nothing wrong with doing this, in fact, in sport it is quite often the norm. It is common place for an athlete to take a few minutes before they go into the heat of battle to talk to themselves about how and why they will succeed.

You see, it is at these moments of truth that you need to have something factual to talk to yourself about. Yes, you can talk about anything you like, but the reality is, if it isn't true or has little or no validity to you and what you are about to do, then can you really go forward with a high level of confidence from those conversations? Will you truly be able to feel good about what you are about to do based on the story you have just told yourself?

The simple answers are you won't, so don't even try.

Build reason, create opportunity and utilise situations well in advance that will allow you the availability in the future to talk to yourself based on truth, reality and result.

The outcomes will follow.

The Journey Continues!