Is there someone in your life who acts as though it is his or her job to negate you, and what you stand for? They sometimes carry a message that says: “you’re not as good as you think you are or as good as people say you are”.
I recently dubbed this kind of negative feedback as ‘Miss Mary Conversations’: non-productive, critical talk that can sap your energy and create doubt in your mind — and then you’re off and running, replaying it over and over again.
There’s often no point in defending your position against this kind of conversation. Too many of us carry a negative, self-talk track or two on the CDs that play between our ears. So, who needs more?
One solution lies in this “Do Not Enter” sign I photographed along the roadside. You know ‘him’ by name; maybe ‘she’ even lives in your home (which makes it even more challenging). So, determine right now to block the entrance … don’t record what is said. Consciously turn your internal tape off and try to shift the conversation.
If you’re stuck and have to hear it, don’t ‘listen’ deeply – hit the delete button as soon as you can and mentally put up a protective ‘do not enter sign’.
Smile, walk away and reaffirm your good…
