Is Your Inner Voice Holding You Back?

We talk to ourselves constantly, almost endlessly. Sometimes, our voice is audible, and we speak out loud. Most of the time, though, we are having an internal conversation.

How many times a day do you wonder what you will eat? That internal dialogue is fueled by hunger or a habitual eating schedule. You often have a conversation like that while consciously performing an activity.

That's because, regardless of the topic, your inner dialogue is mainly driven by your subconscious. You may consciously talk to yourself, but much of your internal monologue comes from a silent voice running through your head.

 Sometimes, your silent talk boosts your confidence and drives you to positive experiences. At other times, you are your worst enemy, doubting your abilities and holding yourself back. Why do we do this? Let's look at the silent self-talk phenomenon that keeps you from achieving your goals.

 Your Self-Talk Might Have Been Programmed At A Very Early Age

 It's important to understand that many of your current beliefs, regardless of your age, were born when you were a child. They were formed when your impressionable brain was trying to figure out the world around you. Sometimes, those beliefs are beneficial, but many times, they are cognitive distortions that limit your possibilities.

 Once established, they gain power the more they are revisited. The neural connections in your brain are strengthened every time you repeat a thought, whether that thought is correct or incorrect, positive or negative.

 This neurological process explains why it's so difficult to change our beliefs and behaviors. Once your inner voice repeats a belief, especially for years or decades, it is difficult to move past it.

 Difficult doesn't mean impossible.

 The inner dialogue keeping you from living your best life isn't invincible. You can change what you tell yourself, thereby changing your experience. Knowing what you say to yourself is the important first step in creating a positive and empowering inner dialogue.

When you talk to yourself silently or out loud, take a minute to review what you are saying. Ask yourself if you are telling a true story or basing your thoughts on ingrained beliefs holding you back.

Become aware of your inner voice when it is discouraging or limiting. Tell yourself a different story. Embody a positive and empowering inner dialogue, and you will find that your outer world starts to become more positive as well.