Minute With Mallon: The Most Important Conversation!
Something I Taught:
You talk to yourself more than anyone else—are you listening to what you’re saying?
I was listening to a Tim Ferriss's podcast recently (#762). If you like podcasts, I'd highly recommend him!
His guest on that podcast was a gentleman named Coach George Raveling. He played basketball at Villanova University and was head coach at Washington State, Iowa, and USC. Since retiring Raveling has served as Nike's global basketball sports marketing director.
Very sharp man and full of wisdom.
At a certain point he said these words:
"The most important conversation you will ever have is the conversation that you have with yourself."
He said that these conversations are far more important than the conversations you have with those around you. And he went on to say that, "The best part about the conversations you have with yourself is that you are in total control of these. You can craft the conversation any way you want to."
Back in the late 1980's I bought a book by Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D called, "What To Say When You Talk To Yourself." I have the copy of it in my hand right now. It's so old that every page is literally yellow. -P.S. The link above is to the updated copy!-
I have given away or donated hundreds of books over the years, but this one still has a special place on my bookcase. It did so much for me that I'll never give it away. He was one of many mentors who changed my life.
The book explores the power of self-talk and how the things we say to ourselves shape our thoughts, behaviors, and outcomes in life.
Helmstetter argues that much of our internal dialogue is negative and self-defeating. It's often based on subconscious programming from past experiences. The book introduces the concept of "self-programming", where you can change your life by consciously replacing negative thoughts with positive, constructive affirmations.
Some key points:
Your mind absorbs whatever you tell it repeatedly - good or bad.
By changing the way you talk to yourself, you can reprogram your thoughts, beliefs, and actions to achieve much more success in your life.
Helmstetter offers practical techniques for improving self-talk, including positive affirmations, visualization, and setting specific, constructive goals for yourself.
Over the years, I've recommended this book to many clients and friends, and those who apply its ideas have experienced wonderful personal and professional results.
So I wanted to recommend this to you also! If you ever feel that your thoughts are holding you back or are self-defeating, read it!
I'm just a beggar telling other beggars where I've found bread!
Something to Ponder:
No man is more unhappy than he who never faces adversity. For he is not permitted to prove himself.
Seneca
Something I Learned:
Reading a book called The Hunger Habit: Why We Eat When We're Not Hungry and How to Stop. Recently, I've found myself eating good during the day, but then at night after dinner, I graze. A lot! 😳 And I totally know it's not good for me. The waistband of my pants has been screaming lately!
Here's something that I hope you find both interesting and beneficial. We truly do need to be reeducated about how to eat more healthily and this book will do it for you.
THE TRAP OF LOW FAT: HOW LOW-FAT FOODS CREATE CRAVINGS
Have you noticed how low-fat foods keep us craving and coming back for more? This is because the fat in full-fat foods helps our bodies register fullness. Since low-fat foods have been engineered to take the fat out, we don’t feel full even though we are eating calories. Interestingly, the low-fat food movement can be traced back to 1977, when the Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs issued a report suggesting that Americans eat less fat and more complex carbohydrates to prevent diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. This sounded scientific and rational at the time. It sounded especially good to the food industry. Why? Well, if you remove the fat, you have to replace it with something.
That something happened to be sugar. And thanks to governmental corn subsidies, sugar, in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, became dirt cheap. Whether reduced calorie, light, low-fat, or nonfat, all of these types of alternatives to regular food have been shown to have higher amounts of sugar. Whether because with these altered foods we consciously give ourselves license to eat more (“it’s low fat!”) or because these foods don’t provide our bodies with the natural mix of fat, protein, fiber, and carbohydrates to signal fullness, sugar sure can keep most of us craving.
Something I Saw:
I appreciate you being part of this community. If you know someone who’d enjoy these ideas, feel free to forward this newsletter to them! RobertMallon.com/Newsletter
Hope you have an incredible week!
Robert
