The Inner Cheerleader

Today’s Mantra: Live and be happy

This week I’ve found myself talking differently.

Not out loud, but to myself.

And I realised something.

Surrounding myself with positive books and websites has changed my inner voice.

A visit to the Children’s Hospital on Monday night with poor little Julian, left me waiting for hours with a sleeping, feverish child. I took my Ipad and finished off the Kris Carr, Crazy, Sexy Diet book and then re-read the Wellness Warrior’s Make Peace With Your Plate.

The books are full of positive encouragement and have some awesome tips on getting healthier but I didn’t realise this morning that they are re-wiring me.

It hit me as I worked the coffee machine. I started to think, “Really shouldn’t be having this, wish I could have the willpower for a herbal tea instead…” when I got cut off. Out of nowhere I heard, “Why shouldn’t you gorgeous? You have been doing some great things with your diet and really feeling the benefits. You can’t change everything at once.”

Pretty happy with that assessment I scrolled through my to do list and heard a gentle, “Do what you can, what excites you the most, what will make you happy today.” The crazy thing? I meant it. Yes maybe it’s Kris Carr’s voice for now that I am hearing  or someone else but eventually I will take ownership of it and this voice will be mine.

It makes sense for positive books to make you happier. I find when I read too many dark, criminal novels that I feel scared more often and I have nightmares. So I shouldn’t be surprised.

Your reality comes from your thoughts and your thoughts are created by your environment.

Do you know that the way you speak to your children becomes their inner voice?

I am really trying to be more conscious of how I address them and even what I say to them when they are in trouble.  So I checked out a few ways that I can become my kids inner cheerleader here:

• Be kind and respectful.  Speak to your child the way you would want your child to speak to him- or herself.  Connect with your child and use positive, uplifting, and affirming words and messages.
• Model positive self-talk. Let your child hear you use self-talk to deal with challenging situations. For example, if someone is rude to you, you could say, “I can choose my response. I will take a deep breath and then decide what to do.”
• Model how to change negative self-talk. When you catch yourself saying something negative, change it to something more constructive. For example, “I can’t believe how clumsy I am. Oops. I meant to say, ‘Sometimes I make mistakes, but I’m learning from them and I can do better next time.’”
• Use a positive tone.  It’s not just what we say to, and around, our kids that matters – how we say it is just as powerful. Nagging, sarcasm, yelling and so on will have a negative influence on your child’s self-esteem and self-talk.  Use a kind, loving tone to positively shape your child’s inner voice.

Have a fantastic day.

xx