Are Negative Mantras Interfering With Your Life?

Have you ever doubted yourself or been hesitant toyou love.
speak out when others have ideas in conflict withSo what can you do if negative mantras are
yours? Have you ever procrastinated because youinterfering in your life?
were afraid you just couldn't do something perfectThe first step is to recognize your negative mantras.
enough? Have you ever wondered why people whoBegin by paying attention when uncomfortable feelings
are less talented, attractive or intelligent than you aresurface. As you are aware of the feelings, "listen" for
seem to feel so much better about themselves thanthe negative thoughts passing through your mind. Ask
you do?yourself, "what was I thinking just before I felt like
Many intelligent, creative and successful people harborthat?" Once you recognize that you are sending
inner self doubt that would amaze anyone looking inyourself negative mantras, you can turn them into
from the outside. As a therapist, I see the pain that ispositive ones, and bring about the changes you want.
caused when people beat themselves up mentallyBut sometimes it can be very hard to let go of
with negative self-talk. Some of the people who comenegative thoughts, since they are often tied to deeply
to see me are already aware of the harmfulheld beliefs, traumatic experiences or unresolved
messages they give themselves. But others sendemotions. In that case you may need the help in
themselves these messages unconsciously, replayinglearning new techniques to get to the root of the
them over and over without even being aware ofbeliefs.
them. I call these harmful messages "negativeI have been a hypnotherapist for over 25 years, and I
mantras".have found a combination of hypnotic and
For a long time, eastern religions have known theNeuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) to be the fastest
power of mantras. These are powerful phrases,way to reprogram old beliefs and mantras that aren't
repeated over and over, in order to bring about aworking.
positive spiritual change. And though you might notTo put it simply, hypnosis and NLP provide you with
have such a fancy name for it, the chances are thattools you can use to change deep underlying beliefs.
you probably use mantras everyday. Quite simply,These skills can be learned and done on your own. Of
mantras are the things we tell ourselves. A mantracourse, continuing you education with a coach,
could be what you say to yourself to get psyched uphypnotherapist or guide is the fastest way to learn
for a big meeting. Or what you tell yourself to staythese techniques. Much like a good gardener, a person
positive when life is getting you down. When mantrastrained in these techniques can help you clear out the
are positive and constructive, they can help us enjoyweeds that are choking the life out of your garden.
our lives and achieve our goals. But the negative thingsOnce these weeds have been cleared out using
we tell ourselves can also act as mantras, and canhypnotic techniques, you can learn to use
have a profound effect on our lives.neuro-linguists anchor the positive mantras in place of
Negatives mantras can cause you to feel responsibilitythe negative ones. When they are combined you have
and guilt for things that are not your fault, hamper youran powerful way to reprogram reactions. In fact, you
ability to get along in relationships, or cause you tomay not even notice the new positive messages you
doubt your own talents or abilities. These feelings canare sending yourself. What you will notice is a new
lead to over-eating, anxiety, procrastination, addictionfeeling of comfort, safety, and satisfaction that
and depression. Negative mantras can keep you frompermeates every aspect of your life.
achieving your goals and take the joy out of the things