How we talk to ourselves matters more than we often realize. Would you ever speak to your best friend the way you sometimes talk to yourself? For many of us, the answer is a resounding “no.” So why do we do it? Why do we let negative self-talk get in our way? Join me this year on an empowering journey where we flex our mental muscles to build the ultimate hype squad…ourselves!

Why Positive Self-Talk Matters

If you are new here, I always start with the why. We are kicking old habits to the curb and taking on a new mindset. It is time to reprogram our thoughts and build a strong foundation of confidence. Although it sounds straightforward, it can be incredibly challenging to maintain. But fear not! We have some tricks up our sleeves to improve the dialogue we have with ourselves to set the stage for a beautiful mindset to improve the overall quality of our lives.

8 Daily Activities to Build Your Inner Hype Squad

1. Imagine Inspiration

When people tell you to trust your gut, what do you think of in that context? For me, I imagine my inner goddess. She happens to be a cheerleader for me. (Yes, this is not far off as I was one in high school, one for workers’ compensation, and now for life.) She is a miniaturized version of myself, who I envision at my core. This version of me celebrates wins on the inside by doing back tucks or back handspring back tucks when great things happen. She is also the first person to make me feel before I decide. This could be a good feeling nudging me to move forward or a bad feeling telling me to be on high alert or exercise caution. I like envisioning this version of myself because I do not like letting her down. What does this look like for you? What would you like your younger self to think of you, and how would you change your decision-making process if you knew your younger self was there, watching? I like to live with the phrase, “Be the person you needed when you were younger.” It reminds me to be bold, brave, and take action. Anything else is not worthy of my younger self.

2. Alarm Affirmations

I talk about these a lot. Such a game-changer for me. How I found this effective in my world, I set an intention the night before after reviewing my schedule for the following day. I find what resonates with me, especially if there is an important meeting, a tough workout, or a speaking event, you name it, and I craft an intention to set myself up for success. Next, I program it into my phone under the alarm description area of my iPhone. This is the last thing I do before going to sleep, so I drift off in a positive headspace with my affirmation and the vision of how amazing tomorrow will go. When my alarm goes off in the morning, the intention takes up the majority of screen space, and I awaken to a fabulous phrase to start the day. Depending on what the day brings, I may add a ‘walk-out song’ to the alarm for a little added oomph. Taking a mindful moment to set this intention allows me to set the tone for sleep the evening ahead and the tone for the next morning.  I find this incredibly helpful, especially when it is early morning or I have to catch a flight. Any tidbits of inspiration I can cultivate through mundane tasks help me set a foundation for the day to ripple with awesome, putting me in a good mood from the start. And with that good mood, I am more likely to drink water upon waking up and make the bed. The ripple effect. It matters!

3. Toothbrush Talk

While brushing your teeth in the morning (and at night), look yourself in your eyes. Do you see how beautiful they are? What color do they look at this moment? Sometimes mine are darker, and other times they are lighter. Now, say three things you like about your appearance… maintaining eye contact with yourself. There is a plethora of reasons you are a beautiful person. Make sure you tell yourself these reasons not only in the morning, make sure you do it at night too. That person in the mirror loves and respects you. As a bonus, do not use the same reasons in the morning as at night. Find uniqueness within your appearance because this is what makes you special.

4. Helpful Handwashing

We wash our hands a lot…well, I hope most of us are doing this! Next time you wash your hands, look in the mirror and tell yourself something you are proud of in that moment of the day. Think of a small win you have had and give yourself an attaboy. For a bonus, give yourself a wink. “Hey, you! I am proud of you. Way to go for being early getting that report in today!” Every little bit helps. Remember, we are building our hype squad from within. These small wins will add up and cultivate a snowball effect.

5. Refocused Reflection

When you pass by your reflection in a mirror or a window, SMILE at yourself. Take a moment to breathe in the awesome that is you. For a bonus, give yourself a wink (like when you are washing your hands) or uplifting kudos such as “Hey there, you brilliant, beautiful soul!” Feel free to add some spice, especially if you feel amazing in your clothing or because you are living it up in the comfort of your skin.

6. Welcoming Wardrobe

With each piece of clothing you put on your body at any point of the day (in the morning, at the gym, or getting ready for bed), say something positive to compliment your incredible vessel. Your body does so much awesome for you and has been through so much with you. Your body has gotten you to this point in life, celebrating your wins and picking you up after your losses or from lessons learned through failures. Our bodies are miracles. I know I have treated mine terribly over the years, but it still allows me to do amazing things regularly. This is where we need to flex our mental muscles to hype up these amazing bodies because they do a lot to keep us moving forward. Time to celebrate!

7. Wonderful Weekly Reflection

Keep a jar of some kind for weekly reflections. At the end of each week, take an index card or a sticky note and write a highlight,  your “magnificent moment” from the week. Do this for the year when you need a reminder of the great things happening in your world. Take a peek back through these notes. Fill the jar. Review as often as you need or make it an annual tradition. This is a great exercise for teams, children, or anyone needing a little reminder of the good things happening all around! 

Note: If you do not want the added clutter, make a file on your computer or in your email to house the awesome things you are doing.

8. Wordsmithing Words

Words matter. Your cells are listening. Don’t believe me? There has been a multitude of studies on how people talk to plants. If plants behave in a specific manner with the way they are spoken to, how do you think your cells are doing? Be intentional with your words to yourself, towards yourself, and about yourself. For example, instead of saying, “I am lazy today,” use a more powerful I am statement for your well-being… “I am intentionally restorative today. I am accomplishing rest and rejuvenation.” Reframing these types of phrases will help change how your neural pathways connect! When you signal to your body that you are lazy, it has a significantly different message to your nervous system than stating you are being restorative. Words matter. Send messages to your body that help you look and feel your best. No one will do this for you if you do not do it for yourself. And you deserve it!!

You Control What Comes Next

The mind is a powerful tool, and we hold the key to unlocking its potential. With a little bit of consistency and a sprinkle of willpower, we can become our own biggest cheerleaders. The journey starts now, and it starts with you. Be your own hype squad, and watch your life transform in ways you have never imagined. For a bonus, share your progress and inspire others. Together, we can build a community of confident, empowered individuals.