Self-limiting beliefs or negative self-talk are obstacles that you need to put the brakes on. The internal chatter of telling yourself, “No, you do not know enough to do that” or “You never finish a task” needs to be extinguished. You see, skillsets can be learned but a mindset has to be changed. What kind of pep talk would you give your friend in a similar dilemma? The true obstacle to your success is you. You let yourself listen to the chatter and stop gaining the momentum you need to reach your goals. Even worse, you may give up on your goal all together. Do you really want that?

5 Ways to Stop the Internal Chatter and Release the Brakes

1. Acknowledge the negative self-talk but do not entertain it.
2. Stop the thought. When you hear the negative talk, just say “stop”.
3. Reframe each negative thought into a positive thought.
4. Ask yourself. “Is this thought 100% true?”
5. Wear an elastic band on your wrist, give it a snap when you think negatively. A quick reminder to change you thoughts and change your life!

Your thoughts are very powerful. You can make things happen with the right state of mind.

“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” -Anais Nin
 Surround Yourself with Successful Like-Minded Individuals. Create relationships and a circle of friends that support you. It is so important to be around people who think the same way as you. It is invigorating to share ideas, stories, and thoughts with these individuals. You may lose a few friends along the way because they do not carry the same mindset as you. At first, this may be disheartening but the question you have to ask is, “Do you wish to move forward and be around people who support you and wish you well or do you want to stay stuck doing the same things you have always done? Surround yourself  with people supprot you and want you to grow as a person. Make new friends. Get to know people who have the qualities you admire or who have accomplished what you wish to accomplish. Ask them out for a coffee or lunch. You may even ask them if they would mentor you. These are the people who challenge you to grow and assist you in reaching your goals.

Who is your mentor? Who can help you take your career and life to the next level?

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The snow is melting and I am starting to contemplate participating in a couple triathlons. I enjoy triathlons, mainly because of the variety of activity and the challenge of transitioning from one activity to the next. They can be done individually and as a team.

Our businesses and our personal lives are really not that different than a triathlon. A triathlon is an endurance sport. It is all about how you face the challenge of completing each portion of the race and how smoothly you transition into a new portion of the race. If you do not pace yourself, you may not be able to sustain your momentum.

Know where your strengths lie. Continue to develop your strengths. Your weaknesses will diminish as your strengths increase. Practice. Take a course and sharpen your skills. Challenge yourself to the next level. Many of us do not know what we are capable of, until we try. Are you giving 100%?