Before I started my transformation, the conversations I had with myself consisted of:
I would like to...
It would be nice if...
What if...
If only...
I can't...
I wish...
I started listening to the conversations I had with myself and realized how they made me feel. After a conversation with myself, I often felt as if I wasn't good enough. I saw that my life had been a big "what if?" I had spent so much time in "what if" that it had become my reality. It was comfortable. My "what if" conversations meant I did not have to take responsibility for my actions, thoughts, and feelings; if something didn't work, I could blame others. "What if" meant I didn't have to take action to create anything. I had lived in this fantasy world where I said "what if" and then finished the story the way I thought it should end. The thing I learned was that the story often did not end the way I wanted it to, and the actual ending left me full of doubt and unfulfilled. There had to be a better way!
One day, I was teaching a class and a student asked, "Do you have a vision board?" I responded, "No, I write my goals down on paper." She said, "Oh." For some reason, the next day, I started working on my Vision Board. I put it in plain sight on my wall, where I would see it every day. Just having it there to see all the time, fired up something inside of me. It gave me hope. Made me feel like I was worthy of having the things on my Vision Board. I changed my conversation with myself, from "what if" to "I will," "I am," "I'm creating." I no longer saw it as my Vision Board. I saw it as my future. I started to act as if I already had the things on my Vision Board.
Whenever the "what if" conversation popped into my head, I looked at my Vision Board and the "what if" quickly turned into "I will." Not only did my internal conversation change, who I was with other people changed as well. I talked about God and stepping out on faith, about learning to take risks. I was re-creating my life, and I loved it. Getting myself into a clear space allowed me to be ME.
Have you ever listened to the conversations you are having with yourself? What do those conversations sound like? How do they make you feel? My internal conversation used to leave me feeling sad, frustrated, and disappointed. Once I focused on God and changed my thinking, my internal conversation inspired me to do anything I wanted. I stopped accepting mediocrity for my life. I seek greatness for my life because I know God has destined me for greatness.
Listen to the conversations you have with yourself and others. Are they conducive to your well being? Does the relationship stretch you beyond your limits, or does it restrict your growth? If it restricts your growth, stop the conversation, put it in a box, and throw it in the ocean -- just get rid of it, and the relationship. If, on the other hand, it stretches you beyond your limit, embrace it! What are you seeking for your life? If greatness is available, why settle for excellence?