We all hit those roadblocks where we find ourselves overloaded. Sometimes we lose energy and burn out from completing even our simplest daily tasks. We may even lose our desire for success. Once that happens, you’ll find an instant drop in your self-confidence level. To prevent this downward spiral, there is a solution: Condition Yourself!
People usually speak of “conditioning” in terms of physical exercise, running, eating well and conditioning our muscles and bodies.
But we should also condition our subconscious mind, so that in times of stress and challenge, we are able to respond positively and vigorously.
One such conditioning method is to control your thoughts. I call it “self talk” and it usually works well. When your thoughts say to you “I just don’t have the energy for this”, flip the script. Tell yourself, “I have the energy to accomplish all my tasks.” Don’t worry that you “feel” depleted, just tell yourself you don’t. Say it over and over again. Your body will respond to the messages you give your subconscious, and you really will find a new sense of energy.
Another method is to visualize.
To visualize, you must be in a relaxed state. Find a quiet space where you will be undisturbed. Sit in a comfortable position, relax your muscles from head to toe. Breath deeply and calmly, instructing yourself to “relax my face, relax my neck”, and so on. Do it to the tip of your toes.
Then give yourself a positive affirmation pertaining to the situation you are in. An example is that if you are overwhelmed with your daily tasks, say to yourself “I am accomplishing everything I need to do today, with a calm focus and abundance of energy.”
Get the idea? I will discuss this in more detail in the future.
Let me know your thoughts about this and also if you have ever tried it.
Blessings,
Donna
Hi Donna,
I love the idea of conditioning our subconscious mind!So many people focus in on physical body conditioning but ignore the mind. When we condition our mind by using the techniques you mentioned ie. visualization, self talk, positive affirmations, we will be mentally strong and can remain positive during times of stress and challenge. Thanks for the great advice!
Shelley Alexander recently posted..10 Ways to Enjoy a Happy Healthy 2013
Hi Shelley,
I have a lifestyle of conditioning my subconscious. Once you do it, it becomes a part of your life!
I remember the first time I dabbled with this and was uplifted by the switch and change it made in my life. Now that I am aware and do this exercise it is easier to do.
We sure can condition ourselves and as we grow, the need grows with us.
Thanks,
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..REVERSING NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
Twitter: AdrienneSmith40
January 10, 2013 at 5:22 pm #
Love this message Donna and you are so right.
I talk to myself every single day. Okay, I say positive and uplifting things out loud because to me they seem more real. As we both start our days off with our gratitude list I also check a list of some positive afformations that I speak out loud everyday as well.
I’m reprogramming my mind and bringing better things my way. The more you say them the more you believe them and the more they’ll come true. Amen to that.
Fabulous message.
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted..Why You Should Be Part Of A Mastermind Group
You Bet Adrienne!
It is so good to know you do that. Reprogramming your mind does bring better things your way. It is that powerful subconscious mind that blocks us and we just won’t allow that to happen.
I do have to laugh, thinking of you going around talking to yourself. I could just see your dog looking at you while you are doing that (funny picture in my mind)
When I do that one of my dogs respond like I’m talking to him lol
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Is It Crazy To Talk To Yourself?
Love this topic, Donna. It reminds me of something I used to do, and I don’t remember where I ever heard the advice but it went like this:
You know how you walk into your job/office in the morning, and everyone always says “good morning, how are you today?” and everyone always grumbles and complains about the weather, they’re tired, it’s boring, whatever?
Well instead of that, whenever someone asks how you are, always smile and say “great!”
So when I was teaching, I used to walk into school and someone would ask, “How are you?” and I always said, “great!” Sometimes I said awesome or fabulous or fantastic 🙂
And people would actually comment on how I was always so cheerful all the time. It was sort of a self-perpetuating cycle. So instead of starting the morning grumbling about how I didn’t want to be up so early, I started thinking about the day being great.
And it doesn’t even have to be true… you just have to teach yourself (or condition as you say) to think differently. It totally works. And it always made my day a lot better!
Now that you got me thinking, I’m feeling inspired to write a blog post about this very topic!
Carol Lynn recently posted..Don’t Let Your Facebook Business Page Be An Embarrassment To Your Company
I love this Carol!
Just one word can change your entire day. Thank you so much for your great input on this subject.
I am going to apply that because when people ask me “how are you?” I know it can be just an expression so I usually come back and tease them by saying “do you have an hour and would you really like to know?”
Now I have just learned something about myself! I’m using the wrong words!
Thanks for the heads up!
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Is It Crazy To Talk To Yourself?
Twitter: MayuraDeSilva
January 10, 2013 at 10:07 am #
Hi Donna,
Very nice video AGAIN with very helpful information dear 🙂 Few times I’ve been feeling that I’m overloaded with tasks and quite hard to focus as mind is kinda annoying and interfere on focusing.
Actually I’ve been used to meditate and taking some time off from the work to help me focus again. Yeah, at that time I’ve been talking to myself to motivate and it develops positive feelings inside me.
As you said, the peaceful mind do everything well and more faster. Else even how much we try to finish up stuff soon, the more time it takes. No? 😉 First days I’ve tried to continue with it, but never made though 🙂
Have a wonderful week Donna 🙂
Cheers…
Mayura recently posted..How to Schedule Your Social Media Updates with Buffer
Thank you Mayura!
Meditation is great. Do you know that we naturally do it several times a day without being aware? Have you ever found yourself staring into space for a moment? That is a natural! But when we take it a step further, and create the time for it, our meditations can become more powerful.
And Yes, anyway we can reach a peaceful mindset will help us focus on what needs to be done throughout the day.
Good seeing you,
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Is It Crazy To Talk To Yourself?
HiDonna
I agree with you about self talk and if when we are feeling overwhelmed we can turn our thoughts around and make ourselves believe we are able to get over our setback we will stop acting negatively and start feeling better. We will approach whatever it is anew.
Kerris
Kerris Torkington recently posted..Go On I Challenge You!
Thank you Kerris,
I find I can self-talk my way out of anything these days. I have been practicing this method for 2 years now and it has become a habit.
I catch myself saying something negative and immediately turn it to a positive statement.
Oh that Law of Attraction!
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..Is It Crazy To Talk To Yourself?
I have to do this all the time because my health hasn’t been good recently. I also have young kids and am a working mother. When I feel low or stressed I work through it with conditioning.
I won’t be beaten. I won’t let low confidence get me. I keep on top of things. Thanks for the insight today, Donna.
Anne recently posted..School Of Life
Hi Anne,
I hope you are feeling better. I’ll keep you in my prayers my friend.
I know how well you understand this because I’m an avid reader of your blog on confidence.
I also know you won’t be beaten! You know too much.
Thanks for visiting and feel better!
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..How To Condition Yourself
Twitter: Barbara Charles
January 9, 2013 at 11:46 pm #
Thanks for these tips Donna. Visualization and self talk! Got it! I’m reading the Secret now. Have heard similar and now just have to learn to practice it more often. Thanks so much for the info.
Barbara
Barbara Charles recently posted..Body By Vi Giveaway! Win A Free 5 or 30 Day Supply!
Hey Barbara!
The more you read and apply the better. I do a lot of self talk during the day, because it is hectic…
Running 3 businesses at once can put a strain on my being. But I have to be on top of things.
Yes, I have been at the place of “overwhelm” at times, but using visualizations and self-talk are only two of the modalities I use to get the job done!
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..How To Condition Yourself
Twitter: sylvianenuccio
January 9, 2013 at 10:59 pm #
Hi Donna,
Yes, I like that… “condition yourself”. Basically, conditioning ourselves should be a daily routine.
It’s so easy to fall into our “negative” routine, so to speak, we are working hard, we are tired, we start thinking negative, and so forth and so on.
When we condition ourselves we are like telling our subconscious positive thing with word and feelings, and that’s what will put us on the right track.
I love your tips 🙂
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..Why Do People Settle For Less?
Well if there is anyone who knew that, it is you Sylviane!
It is easy to fall into that “negative” mindset but as we “condition” ourselves and tell our subconscious positive things, we can be on the right track.
You are so correct when you say that “conditioning ourselves should be a daily routine”
The more we do it, the more it becomes part of our mindset.
Thank you Sylviane,
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..How To Condition Yourself
I agree with you 100%! I’ve always wanted to open my own web and graphic design business and serve lots of clients to earn lots of money. However, lately I’ve been trying to manage my own blog, design for clients, complete homework assignments, on top of participating in my personal life – BOY HAS IT BEEN OVERWHELMING! It’s a lot to take on. Especially since all of my thoughts usually swim around my head. I can’t seem to focus on just one thing. You should see my daily browser tabs – I’m always trying to work on everything at once.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful post!
Hi Carrie
I’m sure you will achieve your goal Carrie. There are so many things you are doing at once, it is difficult to take all the time and start a business.
Somehow, as you are completing your homework assignments and blogging, You might find some room to start.
Focusing on many things at once can overwhelm you. Check out some other blogs of mine. They deal with focusing and how to increase your productivity with calmness and focus.
Good luck with everything,
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..How To Condition Yourself
Hi Donna what a great post. I whole heartedly agree with you about looking at our ‘set talk’ and changing it. And lots of other great suggestions too.
Angus
Angus McEwam recently posted..A Good Day or a Bad Day Today: Choosing My Focus and the Law of Attraction
Hi Angus,
I use self-talk quite often to get myself out of negative thinking. We are not positive all the times. There are times when I go to a place that “I can’t” comes into my mind.
With self-talk, I can get out of that zone of thinking. Hey, that’s why I joined the Blog challenge. That red flag went up and here I am!
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..How To Condition Yourself
Donna, good ways to condition yourself to listen to your inner voice. We have a lot of things to do everyday, but we must calm down and listen to our own voices.
We give everyone else advice but rarely listen to ourselves.
Absolutely Michael,
We are so conditioned to listen to every one else from our family, to TV and on and on it goes.
We need to step back, relax and listen to that wise mind that we have within ourselves.
Using a relaxation methods, our subconscious is more prone to receive the messages we give to it.
Thanks for stopping by,
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..How To Condition Yourself
Hi Donna,
you are making a great point about being relaxed when you visualize.
If we relax we go into the alpha state of brain waves where our subconscious mind can receive the new messages and as a result we built neural pathways.
Personally I like using affirmations that have “More and more I am … or I love the thought of…” added to it which helps eliminating the doubts and I find it easier to accept the new thought.
Thank you so much for sharing this!
Love and Light
Yorinda
Yorinda recently posted..Who runs the Show in Your Life?
Hi Yorinda,
Agreed. We must be in an Apha state in order for our subconscious to receive the message LOUD AND CLEAR!
Ohh….I like that part of the affirmation “More and more I am…That does eliminate those doubts.
Thanks for your input!
Donna
Donna.Merrill recently posted..How To Condition Yourself