“I want to start exercising” is a horrible way to frame your fitness goals. “I need to lose weight” and “I should stop eating junk food” are tied for second-worst. Your mumbles have everything to do with the results you get.

There’s a technique called Neuro Linguistic Programming. Without having been through any NLP courses or reading any of their books, I might not do justice to NLPese. (But let’s not let accuracy get in the way of a good idea ;-) For you, the point is to flip the mumble switch in your brain to get in shape, improve your relationships and/or make more moolah.

Let’s first agree self-talk has a lot to do with the path you choose. If you find yourself or others mumbling, “Argh, I’m an idiot” or “I’m stupid” the brain programs negative self determined prophecies.

Second, let’s also concur the words you choose are attached to the state you feel. If you say “I’m happy,” then you have set the stage for happy feelings. “I’m frustrated,” opens the door to frustration.

Agreed?

Okay, now let’s deconstruct the phrase, “I want to start exercising.” 

Part 1. “I want,” is your declaration of the state you are in. If you say, “want” then you will be in the state of wanting. More specifically, NOT having. The brain is energetically literal. If you said, “I want to pick up some sticks,” then you literally are in the state of PRE-Pick Up Sticks, not Pick Up Sticks. 

Part 2. “to start exercising.” Again. Your literal brain will predominantly identify with meeting the objective of ‘starting.’ Exercise once. Mission accomplished! You started. Now you’re done! This could explain why you exercise only once every few weeks or so. You only accomplish sporadic “starts.”

Hence, it would be best to say, “I exercise five times per week.” Now you’ve positioned the brain to flip your mumble switch in a positive direction.

Now it’s your turn. Deconstruct this sentence, “I need to lose weight.” 

Part 1. What does “I need” say to your brain? Correct, needing over being or having

Part 2. How about “to lose weight?” Isn’t your end goal to be fit, energetic and/or attractive? 

So your phrase would be, “I am fit, energetic and attractive.” You will gravitate to what you believe to be true. Use self-talk to accelerate that gravitational pull to a truth by your design.

“I should stop eating junk food.” Eeeeech…

Part 1. “I should,” is the quintessential Obligation Anchor. Feeling obligated, while being in the state of ‘should’ (aka – ‘not have’) is flat-out deflating. 

Part 2. “Eating junk food” becomes an unwanted thought. Kat McGowan put it best in Psychology Today. “Trying not to think about something almost guarantees it will pop up in your consciousness.” For example, try NOT to see a red and white beach ball in your mind’s eye.

“I make healthy eating choices” or “I eat in moderation” gives your mind-set a head start.

Improve your mumbles to get better results.