If You Can’t Say Something Nice …

How would you feel if you got 66,000 text messages a day? Overwhelmed, right? I mean who in the world could have that much to say to you? But what if I told you that of those 66,000 – some 46,200 were negative and mean spirited texts? Not only would you likely be angry but you’d probably realize that the sender of those messages didn’t have your best interest at heart to say the very least! You’d probably think they were crazy.

That’s a curious scenario. But did you know that you send about 66,000 messages to yourself everyday? I’m not talking about texts – I’m talking about self talk. Psychologists reveal that on the average, you and I are daily sending about 66,000 messages to ourselves internally. And the startling thing for most of us is that about 70% of those messages are negative. That’s an awful lot of self smack talk, you know?

Think about it: You wake up first thing in the morning, look in the mirror and say, “Gosh I look horrible.” Or perhaps you step on the scale and say, “I am so fat.” Maybe you blunder through an interview and think, “I’ll never get that job.” All of that is negative self talk – which is not only counter productive – it’s a little bit crazy. Because it means we are bombarding ourselves every single day with horrible, devastating internal texts.

God doesn’t want it that way. As a matter of fact, he expects us to do the opposite. In the gospel of Matthew there’s a fabulous verse. Jesus is confronted by some theologians who ask him to tell them which of the Ten Commandments is the greatest one of all. And Jesus, I imagine without hesitation, said this, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

I think Jesus was saying, “Hey, love God. With all that is in you, love him. And remember to love your neighbor. And you know, be sure and love yourself too.” Definitely a Susie paraphrase but think it through. If you love God, you don’t smack talk him, right? And certainly, if you truly love your neighbor you know that you shouldn’t talk negatively about them. Well then the same is true for you too. If you love yourself, you should keep from letting all that negative self talk roll around in your head and speak something positive instead.

How about stopping all internal smack talk and try pouring on some love – because a few well placed compliments might just go along way to making you a happier and healthier person!