When engaging with others, I would agree that it’s a good idea to be quick to listen and slow to speak. I have heard the wisdom before regarding the fact that God gave us two ears and one mouth. We could all work on being better listeners to be more effective communicators. However, there is one key relationship that I would suggest that you listen less and talk more. That relationship is the one that you have with yourself.
All too often I find myself listening to negative thoughts pop into my head to distract my focus from something meaningful. During challenging workouts, I will often have thoughts of needing to stop or slow down to avoid injury. I have thought about heart attacks during long runs. I have imagined my lungs exploding from pushing too hard. I have thought about all types of ridiculous things to avoid the uncomfortable challenge of continuing a tough workout or competition. The same has held true in work challenges, relationship issues, and other obstacles in life. I can imagine all kinds of reasons to avoid engaging in an uncomfortable challenge.
Our minds are powerful influencers in our lives. If we listen to the impact from outside influences in our minds, we will oftentimes seek to avoid uncomfortable situations, uncertain outcomes, or challenging opportunities. Our thoughts will come up with all kinds of reasons to shut down, play it safe, or not push ourselves into unknown territories. There is no question that listening to these thoughts will hinder our effort, limit our accomplishments, and put a lid on reaching our potential in various areas of our life.
To combat listening to ourselves, let me suggest talking to yourself in challenging moments when you are contemplating what to do. I started this process several years ago while I was attempting to push harder in a workout. I would simply just tell myself that I could do one more. That one more might have been one more mile, one more repetition, or one more “ten minutes.” That one more would often turn into multiple “one mores”. I began to use that same approach in dealing with work issues and other challenges in life. The sheer uttering of positive, encouraging comments to myself would enable me to press through challenges in various areas of life with confidence and determination.
I am afraid we are quickly becoming a society that avoids difficult situations. I see far too many people taking paths of least resistance to avoid potentially stressful situations or just unknown outcomes. I have dealt with a fear of failure in my past and have moved beyond that limiting factor. I would encourage others at any stage of life to embrace challenges, to not fear failure, and to not avoid stressful encounters. By getting comfortable being uncomfortable, we will achieve more, impact more people, and move toward reaching our potential in various areas of life.
It’s ok to be uncomfortable and to learn to deal with stress in a healthy manner. Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world (negative thoughts, with a safe, selfish focus), but be transformed by the renewal of your mind (focus turns off self, toward God, with positive outward focused thoughts)”.
Stop listening to those negative thoughts and start speaking positive statements to yourself. You will be surprised at how your outlook, output, and outcomes will be impacted!
