Inner Conversations Shape Our Outer Choices

Have you ever wondered how much control you have over your everyday decisions? What if you found out that over 90% of the actions you take each day are determined by your habits? This means that only 5 to 10% of the actions you take, are based on your conscious decisions. 

Self Talk, or what is sometimes referred to as the inner dialogue is essential to what we do each day, and ultimately, this creates the results we achieve. Fortunately, or unfortunately, our brains are programmed to conserve power. To do this, it reduces our dependence on decisions by creating automatic scripts called Habits. When these habits are activated, decisionmaking is no longer required, as the habit is triggered. 

By now you would have figured out that if we have invested in creating good habits, then our results will be good, and we achieve more. The problem that we all possess, is that our negative habits lower our outcomes and we lose, as a result of this pattern. 

Can this be changed? 

Yes! It can, and it should be changed. 

All we need to do is to be conscious of the actions we take, and realise whether these are taken via the Habit Route or, whether these are driven by conscious choice. Daniel Kahneman has proposed the theory of thinking fast or slow. Fast thinking is the automatic, default setting, which arises in the triggering of habits. Slow thinking is about taking conscious action after a certain amount of consideration and analysis. When we focus on outcomes, and we consciously take actions after consideration, rather than on how the avoidance of those conscious actions will produce a reasonable result. 

Are you ready to be more conscious and therefore more cognizant of the decisions we take, and how those decisions can be taken consciously, rather than taking those sub-conscious decisions that we are prone to do. 

Here are some quick hacks that will give you tangible results: 

1. Affirmations. These are positive statements that you repeat to yourself many times a day. The more times you can say these the better. Here are some examples:  

   1. I can and I will. 

   2. I am the best. Forget the rest. 

   3. Everyday in every way i get better… better and better. 

2. Frame your statements in a positive way. For example: 

   1. Instead of saying I will not be late, say I will be early

   2. Instead of I’ll try. Say… I will do it. 

   3. Instead of Don’t be rude. Say… Please be a little kinder. 

When you consciously say and do positive things, life will look more positive, and your self talk will improve. You will then be tapping into your Inner Coach, instead or your Inner Critic. 

I wish you all the best as you create a heightened zone of awareness and take conscious decisions that will shape the future YOU!

Ian Faria.

Mind Coach and Leadership Trainer.