Today's Stickism: Putting Your Guard in Place

Well, hopefully you've been practicing that rubber band technique enough now that you have noticed improvement in the "flavor" of your self talk. If not, keep those rubber bands working...it's worth a few "snaps" to keep your "committee" in its place!! I was in a class last week and the professor described our self talk as "the committee on your shoulder!". I liked that term and think it makes it easy to see that we are the "chair" of that committee and we are in charge!

Now, I have a new idea that can help you guard against "stinkin' thinkin" and depression. I found this in a newspaper article by Gail Sheehy. This technique has gone through placebo-controlled tests and has proven to be extremely effective...IF done regularly over 6 months. And... Here it is in all it's simplicity... Before going to sleep,write down three things that went well today and what you did to make sure they went well. Now, isn't that a great use for that AWESOME little leather-bound journal you've had your eye on?

I'm taking my own advice here, and I'll be trying this out, (right along with you) I hope.

Now go get your guard... Ummm... Journal.

Today's Stickism: Talk to yourself much?

SNAP!....  Is that the sound you've been hearing lately?  Hopefully, since that last blog post, you've been putting that rubber band to good use. or maybe you chickened out on the ORANGE rubber band, and you've been just "pinching" yourself...well, either way, I hope you don't have too many bruises to show for it. :-)

You may be saying, "Ok, I have these bruises (or SNAP marks!) and I know that I am not always the nicest person to myself, but now what?"  Well, at least, I HOPE that is what you were thinking...because that is today's topic...Telling yourself the truth.  Now, that may sound very easy (remember how elementary it sounded to SNAP yourself with each negative thought?)  It actually IS easy, and I hope you will give it a try (or a few tries!)

The next time you are forced to give yourself a SNAP, you can try implementing this next step.  Tell yourself the TRUTH about whatever you just got "slammed"for.  Be creative AND insistent about it...as if you were convincing a good friend.  :-)  You actually have to go a bit overboard here...say more nice things than you think are really necessary, and be a bit emphatic about your argument.  Maybe even visualize a formal "debate" and make a sound argument for yourself.  Now try not to feel too foolish while you are doing this!  No one knows that you are giving yourself a verbal defense any more than they knew why you just had to get SNAPPED!  :-) and after all...it's for a good cause!  YOU!

Proverbs 12:25

Heaviness in the heart of a man makes it stoop: but a good word makes it glad.

Now get on out there, and put in a GOOD WORD for yourself!

Stickism for the day

Take a few minutes to listen to the things you say to yourself. Recall over the past two hours some of your internal dialogue. Would you say those things to another person? And...Why not? The words we say to ourselves are powerful and can affect our mood, our body language, and even our behavior! Just think what effects this could be having in your life!

So, let's say that you have just "cottoned on" to the fact that you have been "less than charitable" to yourself lately... What can be done?

First, good job that you've recognized it, and now... For the ACTION part... THINK stickiferously!!!

Put a rubber band on your wrist (don't worry, if anyone sees it, they will just think you have been busy at your desk and forgot it was there!) Now, any time you "catch" yourself thinking negative thoughts about you... Just give a little snap. SNAP!!! Ouchh!!! I know, you get the point... It may seem way too elementary, but increasing your awareness of your negative thoughts can really help you turn this bad habit around. Now, if you absolutely cannot see yourself with a bright orange rubber band around your wrist (like mine!!!) then you can "settle" for a hearty pinch on the wrist when these nasty critters come calling.

So, that's your stickism for the day. Take charge of your thoughts. Because remember...

Proverbs 23:7
...as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.