Rick Torrison explains how changing negative self-talk to declarative statements like "I can" instead of "I can't" reduces anxiety and strengthens leadership. He cites neuroscience research on self-affirmation and shares how he used declarations to overcome his own anxiety.
Make a new declaration. Hey, this is where your power is. You already use language to direct teams and cast vision. Why not use it to command your own mind? Your words and declarations matter. Identify the negative narratives and replace them. Identify the I won't, I can't and I'm not with I can, I will and I am. Try this. Replace what if this goes wrong? With what if it goes right? Replace I can't handle this with I can handle whatever comes and replace I'm not enough with I'm exactly who I need to be today. Studies in neuroscience tell us that self affirming language actually reduces stress related to the activity in the brain. This isn't fluff, it's functional neuroscience. When I was battling my own anxiety and leadership I started declaring I will lead with courage I can overcome and I am called guys. These weren't just words, they became weapons against anxiety.
