Karl Edwards presents Working Matters

Tag: self talk

  • Loving Monday: Facing the Dreaded Day

    loving_mondaySome Mondays are easier to face than others.

    Today is dedicated to the others.

    When we dread Monday morning more than we look forward to it, it’s time for change. Change of job, change of responsibilities, or maybe change in relationships.

    But we all dread Monday mornings on occasion. And on those occasions we do not need to find a new job as much as we need to find a new approach. We need a way to face the day in spite of the strong urge to pretend it isn’t there.

    For those of us who talk to ourselves, our best bet is to remind ourselves that the benefits of facing the day far outweigh the costs of avoiding it. While the feeling is completely the opposite, the facts suggest otherwise. We would be wise to heed the facts.

    We know this. We know that avoiding problems simply allows them to escalate. We know that to put off a difficult conversation is to communicate nonetheless and probably not the message we intend. We know that paperwork does not do itself, and that piles only get bigger when we are not the ones taking them down.

    If today is one of those Mondays that you would prefer not to face, then have a friendly chat with yourself. Remind yourself that the facts are your friends, friends who can be powerful allies when addressed in a timely and direct manner.

    Some Mondays are easier to face than others. All Mondays are better faced than not at all.

    On your side,

    – Karl Edwards

  • If The Future Hung on a Word

    self-talkWhat feelings does this picture stir?

    Reflect for a moment before reading on.

    Words matter.

    Even words to ourselves.

    Especially words to ourselves.

    We tend to underestimate the power of words. We casually throw out phrases like, “I’m a klutz” or “I’m bad with names” or “I’m just an average Joe or a plain Jane.” We aren’t totally serious in one sense, but in another we are expressing some inner dis-ease we are feeling.

    Before going into how such talk might not be serving us well, I want to affirm that the feelings, experiences, and beliefs about ourselves that underlie much of our negative self-talk are very real. I do not want to minimize or invalidate the reality of those feelings, experiences or beliefs in the least.

    We do ourselves two disservices, though, when we are not gracious with our self-talk. We buy into a lie, and we let ourselves off the hook.

    First, we buy into a lie—a false frame of reference that is (more…)

  • Tim Ferris and The Entrepreneur’s Rollercoaster

    Insightful Link

    For my fellow entrepreneurs who also swing between self-worship and self-accusation, I came across this helpful diagram over on Tim Ferris’ blog.

    It comes from the work of Cameron Herold. In this post he describes four stages of an entrepreneur’s “rollercoaster.”

    1. Uninformed Optimism
    2. Informed Pessimism
    3. Crisis of Meaning
    4. Informed Optimism

    It’s a valuable read. Check it out and let me know where you currently fall in your rollercoaster experience. What might be a practical next step for you?

  • Courage to Face the Day

    Face the DaySome mornings it requires nothing less than courage to face the day.

    Our stresses are many. Pressure comes from unexpected quarters. Projects are not turning out the way we planned. Sabotage seems more common than support. The political winds shift against us. Money dries up and options seem scarce. No one answers when you shout, “Where’s the love?!”

    Some mornings we simply need to be our own best friend. Say to ourselves,

    “Hey friend. I believe in you. As daunting as the day threatens to be, it will be worse for all involved if you don’t show up.

    No one else can give the contribution that is yours to bring today. No one.

    I know you’re weary. I know you feel assaulted on multiple fronts. I know it’s not fair. But I know you. And you don’t give up. You can’t stop caring. You won’t allow those around you to settle for less than best, and you won’t allow yourself to in this case either.

    Someone, maybe even God, has given you to this day as much if not more than given this day to you. It’s time now to face it and engage it. I believe in you.”

    What do you say to yourself to muster the courage to face the day?