Learn to Control Your Inner Thoughts

Imagine two individuals sitting in stop-and-go traffic at rush hour. One perceives himself as trapped, and says such things to himself as "I can't stand this," "I've got to get out of here," "Why did I ever get myself into this commute?" What he feels is anxiety, anger and frustration. The other perceives the situation as an opportunity to lay back, relax and put on a new tape. He says such things to himself as "I might as well just relax and adjust to the pace of the traffic," or "I can unwind by doing some deep breathing." What he feels is a sense of calm and acceptance. In both cases, the situation is exactly the same, but the feelings in response to that situation are vastly different because of each individual's internal monologue, or self-talk. Next Page: What kind of negative self-talk do you use?