‘Positive talk’ produces positive attitudes
by Tiffany Davis, south news editor

     “Positive self-talk can change your whole attitude, your prospective on life and your goals. It can change your whole inner self and even your health,” the South Campus coordinator of health services, told the Women in New Roles (WIN-R) students last week.
     During a motivational speech, Flo Stanton, M.S., R.N., used her educational expertise and personal experiences to draw the audience into an interactive seminar.
     The seminar was designed to teach people how to speak positively to themselves and to achieve better satisfaction in their lives.
     “Unfortunately, positive self-talk is something most people don’t do,” Stanton said.
     She told the group that the seminar would make them more aware of what they say and think to and about themselves.
     Stanton explained that when a person’s schedule gets out of hand, the person might start wondering why she is doing so much and how she can get everything finished.
     Such thinking is an indication that it is time to rethink one’s life.
     “When things are hectic, you need to slow down, reevaluate. Positive self-talk is one way to begin reevaluating your situation,” said Stanton
     When people reevaluate their situations, they can set more attainable goals.
     “Sometimes our schedules become so busy that we just can’t find time for ourselves. That’s when we are headed for trouble because stress will take its toll on a person, her family, her classmates and even strangers. It’s okay to take time to love and pamper ourselves, in fact we are supposed to,” she said.
     “I found out that when I took care of me, I was much more effective in my other roles. No one else is going to do for you what you need to do for yourself,” she said.
     “Everyone deserves some time alone even if it is a few moments and even if they have to demand it, or you will pay for it,” Stanton pointed out.
     Sometimes, she explained, people lose sight of themselves. They sense, think, feel and even talk one way but act another. They put demands on themselves.
     They say have to do things or they can’t do things, instead of “it would be in my best interest to do this or maybe we can do this if we reevaluate the problem,” Stanton said.
     “We have to learn to listen to that inner voice and take heed,” she advised.
     She suggested that using positive language instead of negative language sounds better and does not make people feel so bad.
     “Negative talk abuses people, and when you use it on yourself, you are just beating yourself,” she said.
     Stanton predicted that once a person learns to incorporate positive self-talk into her lifestyle, she will be more productive and possess a higher self-esteem.
     According to Stanton, she and Triesha Light, coordinator of the WIN-R program, have collaborated in extending WIN-R to include additional mind, body and spirit with health-related information for the last three years. Contact Light at 817-515-4740 for additional information on the program.