Positive Self-Talk

I loved the Olympics.

I loved the back stories of the athletes.

I loved the excitement of the medal winners.

I loved seeing sports that I could never play.

I loved pretending that I know what the judges are looking for.

I loved pulling for the underdog.

I even loved some of the commercials the first few times they’re played.

(Although they did get annoying after about the third time!)

 

Despite this year’s Olympic controversies,

My mom and I made it a habit to watch the Olympics each night.

My favorite clips were of American gold medal ceremonies when the athletes sang the SSB.

My second favorite clips were of the track and field athletes talking to themselves.

Some of the athletes remained focused and barely moved their lips.

Some of the athletes openly hyped themselves up.

Others of the athletes said nothing at all.

Still others of the athletes just talked aloud, as if someone were listening,

But I don’t think anyone was.

 

In their post-race interviews,

A couple of athletes mentioned that before their race, they told themselves

To trust their training,

To believe in themselves,

That they were the best,

That they deserved to be there,

That the race was theirs to lose.

 

In other words, they filled their minds with positive self-talk

Instead of the damning self-talk that many of us are used to.

 

Every once in awhile,

I could read, “Thank you, God,” on an athlete’s lips.

But mostly, I don’t know for sure what they were saying,

Just that they were talking to themselves.

 

I don’t think, though, they were discussing with themselves what people would think if they didn’t win.

I don’t think they were telling themselves how terrible they were.

I don’t think they were lamenting feeling unprepared.

I don’t think they were fussing at themselves for being unworthy.

 

I think they were pepping themselves up and

Telling themselves that they could do it.

Maybe we should do the same.

 

Dear God: Help us to take a cue from the Olympic athletes and to allow our self-talk to build us up rather than tear us down. While most of us will never be on a stage as big as the Olympic stage, each of us is gifted and called to be and do something. Help us to prepare and train to be the best that we can be at whatever we are gifted and called to do, and then to believe in our preparation and training and go forth in the steadiness of your strength and love. May, “Thank you, God,” become more than three simple words. May, “Thank you, God,” become the eyes through which we see the blessings of this life and world. Amen.