Self Help & Positive Commitment
Remember some of those old wise and tested adages? 'If you can't say something good about someone, don't say anything.' 'Always look for the best in others.' If these sayings are appropriate for how you should think and talk about everyone else then they are appropriate for you. So if you have nothing good to say about yourself, shut up. From this moment on, whenever you have a self-critical thought, kill it with the words 'Shut up!' Then summon up a success thought about yourself and say 'Now that's good.' Keep a bank of good thoughts ready to be used on these occasions:
- Recall the help you have given to other people.
- Admire your attainments.
- Warm to your love for someone and their love for you.
- Relish your successes.
- Think about your current objective.
- Focus on your purpose.
- Remember the people you admire.
- Say aloud, 'I am succeeding and I am proud of me.'
- Look forwards, not backwards.
Whenever you complete a task successfully or achieve a goal, stop, take time out and congratulate yourself - because you deserve it!
Creating Daily Positive Commitment Habits
Every commitment is written in the present tense as though it is a current reality. Using the imperative of 'I will' does not work. We are now going to create daily positive commitment habits to deal with four of the most common negative attitudes that are food and drink to the Black Dog.
Self Criticism
What is the positive antonym of self-criticism? It is praise. So compose your daily habit statement round it:
I .............................................. have tamed the Black Dog. I recognise my achievements, visualise them and I congratulate myself. I feel good about myself and others. I remember that if I cannot say something positive about someone I say nothing, and that goes for me as well. The rule is: Praise or silence.
Low Self Esteem
Follow the same procedure. Refer to page 46 and you will find that the antonym is self-respect.
I .............................................. am justifiably proud of myself. I recall my achievements and successes today, which are .............................................. and I am pleased with my endeavour. I see the best in everyone, including myself. I am confident in my ability to manage my affairs successfully and to help others. I love myself just as I love .............................................. [name of loved one(s)]. Yes I do.
Defeatism and Expectation of Failure
Whenever we have an expectation of failure we are dead in the water and like all wrecks we are a constant danger to others as well as ourselves. It is a negative attitude of mind, which is infectious if it is not eradicated.
The past cannot be undone but there are steps that you can take to salvage what is valuable. The biggest change that you can make is to plot a new course and embark on it.
So now let's design a personal commitment habit.
I .............................................. am winning . Defeatism is an attitude of mind, which I have extinguished with purpose. I anticipate success in all my endeavours. I am winning.
Fear
Fear is a necessary response to danger, it prompts us to fight or run away from a physical threat. But when fear becomes an all pervasive part of our everyday lives, it can paralyse us. We can develop a habit of living in a constant state of irrational fear. How can we start to deal with this fear, and put it back into perspective?
Yes, we design a personal commitment habit.
I ..............................................understand that irrational fear is an attitude of mind. I am in control of my life. When I am frightened I write down the causes and deal with them immediately. I do it NOW. I fear naught. I am the general commanding my life.
