I Hear Voices, Issue #139

The most powerful voice you’ll ever hear is the one that’s inside your own head. And if you’re like most of us, it speaks to you in harsh tones and with words that you would never say out loud to another person.

Sometimes the voice might be yours. Sometimes it might be someone else – a family member, friend, or co-worker. What’s consistent about the voice is that it’s filled with judgment and causes doubt.

If you thought you were the only person with this voice, I hope you feel relieved. You’re not alone and it’s completely normal!

But until you learn to manage the voice, it causes damage, harm, and keeps you stuck.

Pushing the voice away or trying to ignore it will only make it louder and stronger. What you’ve got to do, instead, is make friends with the voice and teach it how you want to be spoken to.

The easiest way to make friends with the voice is to create turnaround phrases to replace the narrative in your head.

Here are a few common phrases, and some simple ways to turn them around:

• Old voice: You don’t have what it takes. New voice: I’ve accomplished difficult things in the past, I can do it again.
• Old voice: You don’t know what you’re doing. New voice: I’m good at figuring things out.
• Old voice: You’ve never been successful. New voice: I’ve got what it takes to do this.

Start listening to yourself, capture your harmful phrases, and create your own turnarounds.

Treat these turnarounds as affirmations and repeat them to yourself throughout the day. Post them around your home, on mirrors, or on your computer - anywhere you’ll frequently see them.

Changing the narrative in your head doesn’t happen overnight. It takes patience, practice, and grace. If you want to change your life, you need to first change how you think, one thought at a time.

You’re not alone. You’ve got this.

Belinda Sandor is the Founder of The VA Connection where she works with new, aspiring, and established Virtual Assistants to help them build thriving businesses through her free online community, courses, and coaching programs. You can learn more here: https://www.thevaconnection.com/