I have worked with numerous individuals as part of my executive coaching practice throughout the years. They come from different walks of life, enjoy varying levels of success, are young and old, men and women, from austere and opulent roots, and from countries around the world. They could not be more different from one-another in most ways. However, there is one aspect in which they are eerily similar, and not just to each another, but to you and me as well. It is in the controlling power of their inner dialogue.
Each of us experiences a constantly unfolding dialogue in our mind. We walk (or run) through our days to the lyric of our thought life, sometimes actively attuned to it, other times barely aware. But its always there, always whispering, always guiding, always influencing. Our inner thought life is a gift, the depth and sophistication of which separates us from the other life forms on the planet.
Earl Nightingale, radio personality-insurance agency owner-cum-motivational speaker created a sensation in 1956 when he recorded “The Strangest Secret” as an inspirational message to his sales force. The “secret” according to Nightingale, was that “we become what we think about.” What made it strange to him, was that most people really didn’t understand and appreciate the transformational power of their thought lives. Years later, with millions of copies of Nightingale’s work in circulation and many an imitator later, most of us still don’t get it.
A good friend of mine put it this way- “we all tell ourselves a story in our head, so why not make it a good one?” I think Nightingale would be pleased with this advice. I have passed it on to every individual that I have had the privilege to coach. This advice, when adhered to consistently is powerful. It’s powerful because it is empowering. Regardless of others’ opinions of you (whether positive or negative), the most immediately actionable opinion is the one that you have about you.
If your inner dialogue is replete with messages about your shortcomings and inability to achieve your dreams, goals and aspirations you can be sure that you will stay mired in your current circumstances. Changing your thoughts to a positive story line will open the door to possibilities as you give yourself permission to succeed, however you define success.
Of course it will take more than simply a change of inner dialogue to realize your potential. There’s no shortcut to success. But if you do not recognize the pattern and power of your thought life to influence the trajectory of your life, you are missing out on a very important secret indeed. Beginning today, start telling yourself a good story.