Self Talk #2

Yes, it is Back to School Time - and today I am going to violate one of my principles.

I like Micah 6:8 “And what does God require of you oh man, but to Love Justice, Show Mercy and Walk Humbly with God!!’ The part I am going to violate today is the last - being humble.

Two days ago I wrote about self-talk - saying positive things about myself (or … yourself). So, today I’m going to say things that aren’t necessarily humble. (Of course, there is an adage - it is not bragging if what you are saying is true!!!)

I’m going to use two words today “I AM”. But trying to keep it within bounds, let’s put those two words in conjunction with what I think is God’s words for me.

Let’s start with Galatians 5:22-23: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Putting that into the self-talk concept:

-1 I am loving and show love to others

-2 I am joyful and bring joy into other’s lives

-3 I am peaceful and spread peace into others

-4 I am patient,

-5 I am kind (and … I like the expression “If you can be anything, be kind”)

-6 I am good - and let my goodness fill the world with God’s Grace

-7 I am faithful

-8 I am gentle - even if I need to express something negative, I can do it in a gentle way

-9 I have self-control

And, continuing in this direction, looking at 1 Corinthians 13:4 - 7: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

-10 I am patient and kind

-11 I am NOT jealous

-12 I am NOT boastful or proud or rude (many just a little boastful at times)

-13 I do NOT demand my own way

-14 I am not irritable (because I am loving!!)

-15 I don’t keep a record of wrongs (I don’t carry grudges)

-16 I don’t like injustices (see the Micah 6:8 above - I am to love justice - not earthly justice, but heavenly justice)

-17 I DO rejoice when the truth comes out

With the help of God (as I see him or her), I really do want to strive to be patient and kind, to be loving and joyful, to show - inside and outside - peace; to be gentle and good and faithful

I AM these things

Plus - I AM an encourager. I can (and do) find the good in others - and encourage them to grow stronger in their own lives.

And, saying the following as self-talk - helping me to be a better person:

-18 I AM a great teacher

-19 I AM a great husband/father/brother/sister

-20 I AM healthy and I exercise regularly

And, maybe some thoughts that aren’t quite true YET - but I want

-20 I AM great on remembering names and faces

-21 I AM great on staying on task

-22 I AM a great tuba player and blend well with my musical colleagues

-23 I AM a great friend - attentive to my friends and to all

-24 I AM a great listener

-25 I CAN find positive things to say about everyone

As my classes start in two days, I am psyching myself up through positive affirmations and using words like “I AM”.

As the humorous and philosopher, Will Rogers didn’t really say, but is attributed to him ““I never met a man I didn’t like.” (Seemingly the real version was: “I joked about every prominent man in my lifetime, but I never met one I didn’t like.”). I claim that for myself - I like everybody - whether they like me or not. (After all, we are all made in the image and likeness of God)

WHO ARE YOU?? I AM all the positive things I’ve said above!!! (Or as one friend proclaims: God said it, I believe it, that settles it!!)

Karen