31 CONFIDENT SELF-TALKAvoid black and white thinking. For example, you may not succeed
100% of the time, but this doesn’t mean you never achieve anything
worthwhile. You can learn from everything you do; everything has some
value for you.216
Stop exaggerating and over-dramatising. Veto phrases such as:■ ‘It’s awful, terrible, hopeless.’
■ ‘It’s a catastrophe, complete disaster, total fiasco.’
■ ‘I’ve blown it!’Replace with kinder, gentler, more optimistic forms of words:■ ‘It’s a little unfortunate.’
■ ‘I’m a bit disappointed.’
■ ‘It’s not what I would have wanted, but it’s OK.’
■ ‘I’ve had a slight setback/a few minor problems to overcome.’
■ ‘There must be a way. What are the alternatives?’217