MYTH: Self-Talk is Overrated

"I AM" are possibly the two most powerful words because what you put after them shapes your reality. By your reality, I mean your thoughts, your attitudes and your actions. I wonder what, in this moment, you would say after the words "I am"...I wonder what you may have said yesterday after the words "I am"...I wonder what you may say for tomorrow?

We all fall into the trap of thinking that the thoughts we tell ourselves are fleeting and irrelevant. OR, are true and unchangeable. 

DID YOU KNOW?

• We have between 150 and 300 thoughts about and to ourselves per minute. That means around 30,000 per day.

• 70% of these words are negative, and out of those 70%, 70% are subconscious thoughts that we tell ourselves, I.e. You aren't aware you\re having them.

• Oh, and one more thing, you repeat the same things to yourself 95% of the time. So, it's more than likely that you're repeating those negative things about yourself to yourself.

Words have power. And although most of the time we don't speak words out loud to ourselves (although, no judgement if you do!), the thoughts we have are just as powerful because they're the words we're speaking to our inner selves which shape our outer reality.

Think about what would happen if you spoke to one of your closest friends, 21,000 negative words to them over a period of one day. Imagine the damage that would do. Imagine the lies that you would have to come up with to fulfil such a task. Imagine the effect that would have on their emotional health.

Positive self-talk is essential to our emotional health because our emotional health is a tapestry of mind, body, soul and spirit interwoven together.

However, positive self-talk can only begin with self-awareness: I.e. The awareness of what we're actually speaking to ourselves.

2 Corinthians 10:5 says "take every thought captive"

I love detective, spy, thriller, dramas. And so, I love this imagery because I imagine literally taking every thought captive by sitting it down, grilling and questioning it about its intentions and its origin, it's purposes and perceived power. By the way, I mean the thoughts you have when you catch the reflection of yourself in the mirror, when you make a mistake at school or work, when you think you overhear someone talking about you...

Only then do we become aware of what thoughts we're having, when we're intentionally looking out for them. Only then can we tell whether it's positive or negative and trade it for what is truth-speaking and life-fulfilling.

Start with self-awareness. Awaken your mind to the thoughts it has about your self. Speak what is truth, life and health-restoring to your mind, body, soul and spirit and you will begin the journey of self transformation which will seep into your attitudes and actions. 

I'll keep you posted. 

Why am I writing a book?

It's been 9 days since I had the absolute thrill and privilege of announcing my little book venture with SPCK Publishers and I thought it best to explain myself a little more?!

Why am I doing this? 

1. Because I can

Don't make the mistake of reading that subheading and clicking 'exit'. Let me explain!

We all struggle with self-doubt in some areas of life. The one subject I struggled the most with at school was English (shock, horror!) I vividly remember receiving a 'D' for my GCSE mock and feeling overwhelmed with feelings of failure. 

A few years ago I started this blog - nothing special, just sharing my pondering thoughts - and I realised that with every post I published I was releasing feelings of incompetency. 

Writing a book has always been an absolute dream of mine. 

I was approached by the visionary Juliet at SPCK and we brainstormed the ideas for this book. Part of me wanted to retreat and quit before I had the chance to fail. But I'm learning that if we don't embrace the 'crazy' or the 'risk', we don't realise the 'awesome' and the 'amazing'. 

I am competent. I am able. #THISGIRLCAN

So bring it. 

2. Because it's not about me

Seemingly ironic?! Well, one of the ways I've released feelings of incompetency about writing this book is by reminding myself that it's not about me, nor is it for me.

I'm so excited about what this book can proclaim to a generation of girls. It's for the girl who is trying to figure out who she is, the girl who looks in the mirror and hates what she sees, the girl of faith or of no faith. It's for the girl immersed in an image-conscious culture. It's for the girl who doesn't know her true value, beauty or purpose. 

I have faith that girls will rise with a new confidence about who they are. I have faith that girls will be inspired and equipped to follow their dreams. I have faith that a domino-effect is possible. 

And most of all, I have faith that God will use this book to touch the lives of those who need it most. 

3. Because now is the time

Writing has always been a dream of mine but I always imagined it as a far-off possibility not an imminent reality. Yet, I feel as if I have been called for 'such a time as this' (Esther 4:14).  

Whilst some may see my age as a liability, I see it as an asset. I am more relatable now than I will ever be. And right now, girls need to hear truth. 

Now is the time to 'go'. And nothing will get in my way or God's way.

Follow the journey by following @belle_ministry. 

I'll keep you posted.