What to Say When you Talk To Yourself Reviews

• Provides a simple method to reprogram our mental computer!

  
  By on 1998-05-20
  I work as a therapist in the mental health field and regularly read Self-Help books for myself and to incorporate into treatment programs. Many of these books have interesting theories which don't work or are too tedious to use with individuals seeking quick solutions to problems. This book teaches us that we literally become what we think and tell ourselves. Other books have touched on this concept in the past, but this book teaches us quick and easy methods to stop unwanted thinking/behaviour patterns - to "erase and replace" our negative thoughts with ones which will build our success. Prior to reading this book approximately 10 years ago - this technique required many hours of written assignments and counselling. Individuals now have a simple and effective tool to make permanent positive change in their lives by learning the right things to say to themselves. It reduces the need for prolonged psychotherapy through professionals because it allows to become our own therapist. This book goes beyond positive thinking, it is more than wishful thinking with no concrete instructions on how to achieve happiness. This is a quick and easy method to create any level of change an individual desires -by using specific self-talk words and scripts throughout their day. I give this book to every patient that I believe is serious about making positive change in their life!
  
  

• the missing link

  
  By A2NFA5NNGE3M6X on 2004-01-29
  Have you ever read an inspiring 'self-help' book or heard a tremendous motivational speaker that made you want to make significant positive changes in your life? When you tried to implement those changes, did you notice that they were temporary at best, and that you eventually fell back into the same self-defeating patterns that held you prisoner in the first place?

  Helmstetter rightly points out that the majority of information that our subconscious mind receives, from both external and internal sources, is negative. At any given time within our subconscious, as many as three negative thoughts are duking it out with one positive. Not knowing right from wrong, our subconscious chooses to believe the most dominant thought pattern. Unless we feed more positive messages to our subconscious, we become a prisoner to negative thought patterns.

  What to Say reveals a simple way to overcome the onslaught of negative thought by literally feeding positive thoughts into our subconscious through Self-Talk. More than just affirmation statements, Helmstetter shows how to get specific and attack problems at their source.

  This book will serve you well on its own, and will be even more effective as a catalyst to help you apply success principles from other books and speakers. This simple concept of Self-Talk will allow you to take success principles that are common knowledge, and convert them to common practice.

  Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory
  
  

• Positive Affirmations and Self-Hypnosis 101

  
  By A3BV9E9XSA4Z73 on 2001-05-16
  

  This book starts out with an excellent, though very basic premise - that what we think about affects the way we behave and the results we get.
  Unfortunately, at the start of Chapter 4, "New Discoveries", the author starts to go off the rails - and never wholly gets back on again.

  On the Human Brain:
  "The brain operates very much like a personal computer." (page 36)
  Wrong!
  The brain is nothing like a personal computer. And the attempt to draw parallels between them finally falls apart completely on page 38 when the author goes off into a fantasy about "the brain's central control room", which has NO physiological counterpart known to man.

  On Motivation:
  We are told (page 92) that motivational speakers are no use because: "... there is a problem with that kind of motivation: *it is external and it does not last*."
  Yet on page 130 the author tells how he created "... an early, somewhat primitive form of "I can do it!" Self-Talk [tape] for a company which wanted a motivational pep-talk cassette their salespeople could listen to when their sales were down."
  He also tells us that his wife lost 25 pounds through (and I quote) "eavesdropping on my cassette tapes!"

  So if I understand this right, external motivation doesn't work - except when your external motivator is Shad Helmstetter?

  On Hypnotism:
  "[H]ypnosis is not effected during the normal "waking" state." (page 99)
  Absolutely wrong. At this very moment, as you concentrate on your PC monitor to read these words you are in a light level of hypnosis. Yet you are fully "awake", are you not?

  "Hypnosis requires the subject (you) to enter what is called a "trance" state, one of several levels of consciousness which open doors to the subconscious mind." (page 99).
  This "trance" element, it seems, is apparently "a bad thing" because, "With active, daily Self-Talk, you are consciously in control and in charge of every change you are making within yourself. With hypnosis you are not."

  Oh really? Well if *you* aren't in charge during self-hypnosis, who is?
  Helmstetter never bothers to answer this question, but he does make some rather self-contradictory statements on the subject over the next few pages, thus:

  "If you use self-hypnosis as a tool for your own growth, and it has worked for you in the past, and if you choose to use Self-Talk as part of that tool, the combination of your own self-hypnosis and your new Self-Talk should work for you as well." (p.106).
  (Does this mean that the author really does understand that you can be both "awake" AND in a light "trance" at the same time?)

  "Silent Self-Talk can be either a conscious or an unconscious internal dialogue." (p. 115).

  "Do your words paint the picture for your own subconscious mind you want it to be hearing?" (p. 120).

  "Since I first began to recommend that people use cassette tapes as a programming tool for the subconscious..." (p. 132).

  "Your subconscious mind will be busily programming in the positive new information about you whether you are consciously thinking about it or not." (p. 134).

  "This is the Self-Talk that directs your subconscious mind to stop doing something one way and start doing it another." (pages 150-151).

  And the piece de resistance: in the "Positive Self-Talk to Stop Smoking" script:

  "When I see a cigarette, or even think of one, I automatically hear the words, "I do not smoke" - and I don't!" (page 157).
  A 'bog standard' example of a 'post hypnotic suggestion' if ever I saw one.

  In other words, Self-Talk is nothing but communication with your subconscious mind - which is exactly what hypnosis is all about.
  The only difference is that when you are consciously bombarding yourself with Self-Talk then your conscious, critical mind is given free rein to sabotage anything it can.
  The point of using self-hypnosis is that in a "trance" state you can, to a greater or lesser degree, short circuit that self-defeating critical tendency.

  Not surprisingly, then, of the five types of Self-"Talk" that the author describes, some are acknowledged to be more effective than others - and the more like overt self-hypnosis they are, the more successful they are likely to be!

  On the Use of Language:
  On page 153, the author rightly points out that phrases that contain the word "should" usually result in non-action, thus:

  "I *should* cut down on fried apple fritters - BUT I don't."

  Yet at the bottom of that same page we find a recommended item of Self-Talk that goes:

  "I only eat what I should."

  Which neatly conceals the underlying route to failure as in:

  "I know I *should* eat yoghurt, BUT cheesecake is so much nicer!"

  Nor does the author appear to understand the effect of negatives in speech. Thus his "Positive Self-Talk for Freedom From Worry" starts with the phrase "I do not worry" and ends with "I never worry".

  Now, what do you have to think about in order to make sense of these two phrases? You have to think about WORRYING. So the script that will allegedly free us from Worry actually starts and ends by reminding us about WORRY.
  Oops!

  In the final analysis there are some parts which - as typical examples of self-hypnosis - will undoubtedly be of use, and it comes as no surprise that many reviewers see this as having been a great help to them.

  Having said that, however, once we admit that this book really only covers a limited area of hypnosis/self hypnosis, the question becomes, "Why be satisfied with something that is limited and incomplete?"
  Why not just buy a book that says outright what it's about and tells the whole story.
  
  

• What Are You Really Telling Yourself?

  
  By A1AT0GONN4A9NA on 2006-07-02
  I tend to lean mostly to those books one would consider as "spiritual" but this is a book I have no qualms in recommending to those who may not be that enthusiastic about the "spiritual side" of life even though I know in my heart that all things - regardless of what they may look like - are spiritual at the deepest level of things.
  
  This was a book I got when I was desperately looking for things to get me out of the hole I had dug for myself. I had to come to terms with the fact that I was responsible for my life. I could no longer blame my parents, or my teachers, or former priests or preachers...I was responsible for me. How scary! How intimidating! How freeing! How liberating! The first thing I had to come face to face with was how I was relating to myself because how we relate to ourselves is usually the same way we relate to the world and I became painfully aware that I was relating to myself in a not so friendly of a manner.
  
  I thought I was a loser, a disappointment, a failure. I thought I was a mistake, an accident, God's screw-up. It's terrible the things we call ourselves. But then I looked at my world and it seemed as though I had every right to call myself these things because my world reflected these thoughts. I had no idea that there was a direct correlation between my inner thoughts and my outer world. We can keep nothing a "secret" to the universe because the universe will always gladly reproduce our deepest beliefs. "Oh, you think you are a loser?" BAM "Here's something to make you think the way..." "Oh, you feel like a dissapointment?" WHAM "How's this for disappointing?" Of course, the reverse of this is also true and that's not because the universe is neither positive or negative but is always completely neutral and whatever it is that we believe about ourselves, about others, about life in general is exactly what we will receive. The basic law of life is just as Jesus the Christ said, "It is done unto you AS you believe..."
  
  99.9% of our overall beliefs are formed by what we are saying to ourselves about ourselves. Even if we are calling someone else "an idiot" it's not really a reflection of the other person as much as it is a reflection of what we believe about ourselves.
  
  I read this book thoughtfully and willing to change some of my "inner scripts" and I thought at first that I was lying to myself by saying these positive things about myself and my life but I continued these things to myself and I actually began to slowly believe a few of those things and what was really strange was that my life was beginning to change in the same direction as my thoughts. The more tolerance I showed myself, the more tolerance I showed to my world. The more I told myself that I was smart enough or capable enough or strong enough, the more my world would give me these experiences to prove that these things were indeed, true.
  
  We never have any reason to call ourselves ugly or fat or stupid or dumb. We must remember that we were created out of Love, of Light, of Life itself. You are not an accident or a mistake, you are here to give of the good that is within you now and the only way you can ever know that this good exists is to recognize it within yourself first and foremost because if you're waiting for someone on the outside to tell you first, you're gonna wait a long, long time.
  
  Believe in your best self. Bring it forth. Be happy with your life because I promise you this, after you're gone, there will never be another person just like you. You are beautiful now and forever.
  
  Peace and Blessings.
  
  
  

• One of the best self-help books ever written

  
  By on 2002-01-06
  Of all the self-help books I've read, this one is the best! I agree with the other reviewers who said that this one book says it all. It tells you why so many good self-help ideas work for a while and then stop. This book doesn't stop after you've finished reading it. The part about how we got programmed from an early age, and then keep living out those programs was especially helpful to me. But then Dr. Helmstetter goes on to tell you exactly what to do to change the negative programs and replace them.

  I also found it very readable and easy to understand. I read that it's published in 65 countries around the world and I can understand why. It makes so much sense. This is one of those seminal books that everyone should read first. It is also very easy to read. Dr. Helmstetter avoids all the psychological jargon and writes directly to the reader in words that anyone can understand. (I gave a copy to my 13 year-old daughter, and even she got it.) Of all the books in my self-talk library, this one is in first place. It's written for adults, but I wish someone had given this book to me when I was 13. It would have changed my life then, just as it has changed my life now. On a scale of 1 - 5, this book gets 10 stars.
  
  

• Taking control of your own mind - but do you want to?
  By A1UC7MUGDFJFXD on 2003-09-01
  I did actually read this book from cover to cover despite some reservations in the first couple of chapters. The basic premise of the book is that you can change your life\attitude by simply talking\writing\thinking positive thoughts on a regular basis. I'm sure that this is true and it is certainly a useful tool to use.

  The writing style is a little repetitious - mind you so is self-talk ;)

  My reservations, as with all 'motivational' ideas is that it is so close to indoctrination that it makes me somewhat uncomfortable. i.e. If I hate my job, the idea is that I think\say to myself "I Love my job and do it well" several times per day and all will be well.... so what if I hate my job?? should I not hate my job? could I not use this feeling to change my job, instead of brainwashing myself that I love my job...

  As I say, very useful but I don't know that I can deal with the idea that this is something for all problems and\or all people - how boring would life be if we were all positive, happy little robots ...
  
  

• A Huge Disappointment
  By on 1999-09-16
  This book is ninety percent rhetoric and repitition. The other ten percent consists of the author negating all self-help techniques, including positive affirmations. But the gist of "Self-Talk" turns out to be . . . positive affirmations. There is simply nothing new here. Anyone who has read the oldest, simplest self-help book already knows everything in "What To Say When You Talk To Yourself." Terribly disappointing; a waste of time, energy, and money.
  
  
• ~ HOW TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE --The Easy Way... ~
  By A2GYFVOGW9441Y on 2005-02-07
  *****
  Generally, people are the sum total of their thoughts. "As a man THINKETH in his heart, so IS he." G.I.G.O. - cause and effect - still holds true. Most of our worries, anxieties, hatreds and hang-ups are the result of making "mental lists" of offences, injustices, and inadequacies of the past and brooding over them for years. "What To Say..." is a course on how to "burn those lists, "rip out" the old wiring and thought-patterns we have been conditioned to accept, and to replace them with NOW, up-to-date programming that we WANT and HAVE CONTROL over.
  
  The book agrees with the Apostle Paul who said, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I DO, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND [the PAST], and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize [the GOAL]of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14)! "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are TRUE, whatsoever things are HONEST, whatsoever things are JUST, whatsoever things are PURE, whatsoever things are LOVELY, whatsoever things are of GOOD REPORT; if there be any VIRTUE, and if there be any PRAISE, THINK ON THESE THINGS" (Philippians 4:8).
  
  This book gives you a positive plan on how to DO these things, even if you are not "religious"! In a nutshell: it works.
  
  Get the book. You have nothing to lose... but your old way of life! :)
  
  *****
  
  
• Beware when you talk to yourself!!!
  By A3JLEIM1IJWLWU on 2002-10-02
  Dr. Shad Helmstetter's book is among the best self help books. Literally, because most all of the challenges we face have more to do with how we think about ourselves in relation to things much more so than anything else. By continued practice of the Self Talk method in a short while you can literally see and feel yourself being affected by your own Self Talk,which in turn begins to make you aware of all the negative self talk going on around you and not to let your subconscious mind choose to be affected by it, or more importantly be a party to it. Excellent read, get the Self Talk CD's as well.And all the other books by Dr. Helmstetter, The Self Talk Solution and Choices. :-)
  
  
• Revolution with Self Induced Motivation
  By AQAHAWJ1BEDB4 on 2000-02-08
  This book does to the human psyche and mind, what the steroids do to it physically and physiologically, save the effect that the latter cause to happen in the body. Even a single study of the book freshens teh mind, and convinces one of the hidden powers in oneself. It induces so much confidence in one's capabilities, and one's potential to do whatever one intends to do, that if seems to be a new chapter in life. Clearly, one can make out two different phases of one's life, with respect of this book. One before reading the book, and the second after reading the book. The book opens new vistas of human mind, it's working in a very layman terms, and the potential that has been divinely burried in it. what needs to be done is only to say something particular, when one talks to oneself.
  
  
• what a magnificent concept!
  By ATR1E6KES5DKC on 2006-09-04
  Most of us have read many self-help books in our quest for a better career, family life, social life, better us. Most of them have been insightful, some of them even truly helpful.
  
  This one, however, is the first one I've read that makes sense from the first page to the last, without having to re-read or dwell upon anything. It just clicks with you, like something you've already known, but needed someone to sum it up for you to make use of it. It is like the missing piece in the self-help literature. Why? Mostly becuase it picks up where most other stop: why self-help books inspire most of us for a day or two, week or two if we are lucky, and soon after they become another book collecting dust on the shelf, and we continue with our old ways, hardly remembering any of the stuff that inspired us so much when we first read it.
  
  If you think it is just another book on positive thinking, you are wrong. It is so much more than that. It is a philosophy for a life-time, a way of thinking and living. It is at the same time science, and that is how the author treats this concept, often making reference to the underlying brain processes and chemical reactions that take place under the stimuli of thoughts, and how they shape us and our realities. It has certainly made a tremendous difference in my life. Hope it does the same for you.
  
  
• Powerful
  By A10LWBOIZCF2QT on 2006-10-11
  This book can change not only the way that you think, but your life also. When we think we are talking to ourselves. And as the book clearly explains, we are only as good as we think, or say, we are. Many of us don't believe in our unlimited potential because life experience has told us not to. Trials and failures "tell" us that we have limits, weaknesses and excuses for failure, and over the years we begin to believe that. Why not change what we believe by changing our programming and our internal view of ourselves? This book makes it easy to begin doing so. This is more than a self-help, positive thinking book. This book is revolutionary, and if taken seriously, will change your life. I have started some of the techniques described in the book and can attest that this is powerful stuff. You will not be disappointed.
  
  
• One of the best self-help books ever
  By on 2003-09-28
  Over the past several years I have given over a hundred copies of this book to friends and business associates. It changed my life and is helping a lot of other people. This is the best self-help book I had ever read until I read "Who Are You And What Do You Want?" also by the same author. Now I'm giving his new book to friends. If you've ever wondered what stops you or holds you back, read this book and it will make it very clear. If you would like to get motivated and move forward, I would recommend reading both books.
  
  
• Beware when you talk to yourself!
  By A3JLEIM1IJWLWU on 2002-10-02
  Dr. Shad Helmstetter's book is among the best self help books. Literally, because most all of the challenges we face have more to do with how we think about ourselves in relation to things much more so than anything else. By continued practice of the Self Talk method in a short while you can literally see and feel yourself being affected by your own Self Talk,which in turn begins to make you aware of all the negative self talk going on around you and not to let your subconscious mind choose to be affected by it, or more importantly be a party to it. Excellent read, get the Self Talk CD's as well.And all the other books by Dr. Helmstetter, The Self Talk Solution and Choices.
  
  
• One of the First Books I Read--And One of the Best
  By A1UA5SZPSJ8J67 on 2005-02-17
  This was one of the first books I read on self-talk and affirmations and I still think it is one of the best. I also found the audio tapes that Shad Helmstetter created to be helpful. What you say to yourself--even your unspoken thoughts--controls your destiny. If you don't like where you are in life, change your thoughts. That begins with taking conscious control of your self-talk.
  
  
• What to Say When You Talk to Your Self
  By A2KMXS7993KDK5 on 2005-09-21
  I regard the content of this book to be the mother of ALL motivational books.
  It makes a serious point in identifying a flaw in all motivational books. ie The effect of motivational begins to wear off withing hours (maybe minutes)and is prety well disapated within a week. I can vouch for this.
  This book teaches a process (self talk) by which any motivation can work on a continual basis.
  The book suggests recording of motivational and more importantly inspirational messages to ones self. These are to be played at least twice per day. This keeps the motivation rolling.
  It could be the most effective book I have ever read. I have followed the advice and although it is only 48 hours since I commenced the plan it is showing results already.
  Sir Jeffrey Wilken
  
  
• Finally: Details
  By A28TVOX6Y1KQZU on 2004-03-19
  There are lots of books that cover the topic of self-talk. Motivational speakers talk about positive affirmations -- including the classic "Think and Grow Rich." Helmstetter's book is the first one that I've seen that covers the process, including how to create the scripts. Yes, scripts!

  In other words, before you start talking to your self, THINK about what it is that you want to accomplish, examine the details and then write the script. If that concept is a bit scary, there are excellent examples in the text.

  Well worth reading!
  
  

• The best book self- help book ever!
  By on 2004-04-03
  I have read hundreds of self-help books, but "what to say when you talk to yourself" is the best book I have read so far. Without any doubt.

  In this book Dr. Helmstetter shows you how to change your way of thinking by giving your brain positive affirmations.
  The basic principle behind the book is that you "are what you think". Due to that fact, you can quit smoking, loose weight, increase confidence or kill worries, by just give you the right self-talk. It`s a kind of self-hypnosis.

  If you, for instance, suffer from insomia, you should say to yourself: "I sleep good every night, and I wake up full of energy". By saying a such sentence over and over, you will after while change your way of thinking and thus sleep better.
  Of course, the circumstances around us will always affects us. But, by giving ourself the right self-talk, you can handle any situation in a better way. The book is all about being better.

  The book is very easy to read, and the techniques that are described are highly effective and easy to apply.

  This is, perhaps, the only self-help book that you need.

  All in all, just buy the book, use the techniques and see the results. You will be amazed.
  
  

• Makes you think!
  By A3DJ6721YM1NE8 on 2000-06-29
  I'm only half way through this book but already I realize how negative my thoughts have been. Even when I'm joking my brain is listening to my every word and storing it for later use! I really like the analogy about how a person's brain is like an house filled with old, hand-me-down furnature (negative thoughts) that needs to be replaced with new and improved furnature (self talk). A must read for anyone who wishes to improve something in their life. The only minor flaw is it's slightly repetitive.
  
  
• The Real Way to "Just Do It" and Succeed
  By A1AB7XM279L10G on 2001-01-22
  When I read that Shad Helmstetter lost 55 pounds from a motivational tape he made in his own words, he got my interest. When he said not only did he lose 55 pounds, but his wife, who was not part of his project, lost 25 pounds, just from hearing his tape as they were getting ready in the morning, I knew I had found something worth trying. And, the script is in the book word for word!

  I am on my 5th day. And, I didn't stop at weight loss, I also taped his scripts for global motivation, and selling. So, every morning, for six plus minutes, when I used to get ready in dead-air time, I am listening to my own voice giving myself success marching orders.

  So, what's happened in five days. I had a speaking engagement booking goal for January and I met it by January 18. I have revamped my entire marketing plan on the internet, changed my email signature, wrote a new speaker biography, created a corporate slogan, revamped my unique selling proposition statement, 30-second commercial, and am struggling with the two-minute elevator speech. Why? Because I think trapping someone in a metal box trying to engage them in being interested in what I do is annoying.

  Wondering about the weight loss? Want the truth? The psyche hates changes and sabotages efforts until you pin it to the mat and make it behave. I am still at the mat stage. It's like this. I am one of those who has 9 pounds to lose. The first skirmish began when I went into the supermarket the first day I listened to my morning tape. I just happened to walk by the bakery and just happened to see my favorite fried apple fritters on sale, get ready, "buy six, get six free." I swear, they never had a sale that good that I can remember. The good news is I have only two left and I am determined to buy no more, like never, ever buy those dirty pound-attracting dogs again! So, I have 9 pounds to lose, up from 7, because those dastardly apple fritters cost me two pounds. And, it won't let me throw them away. The good news is that, for the first time in a long time, I went out to a business dinner and actually left food on my plate and left half of my chocolate cake.

  I will get this weight off. The tapes will help. After all, I have kept my weight managed for 47 years. You would think that after all this time, my psyche would cooperate. Think again!
  
  

• The best book on Self Talk that I have ever seen
  By A1MLMKB0IV8B4Y on 2004-03-12
  This is the best book on how to effectively use affirmations to improve your self-image and self-esteem.

  As you read this book, you can easily see for yourself that Shad didn't write this book to make money--Shad wrote this book because he really lives this stuff. I want to personally thank Shad in this review for contributing to the world such a great book.

  If your self-image or self-esteem needs a boost--this is the best place to start.

  Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated
  
  

• Valuable Information
  By A3RJPPIBFYL0QZ on 2005-02-15
  Shad Helmstetter presents a great look at the self-talk method of self-improvement. This is definitely one of the best books on the subject (self-talk / affirmations / self-hypnosis / autosuggestion), and explains the author's theories on how the brain works and the immense power of repitition. Hihgly recommend
  
  
• How it made me $17,000 in 3 months work!
  By on 1999-05-28
  I work for a publishing company from Nashville and I sell books to families in their homes. I have sold now for three summers, after reading this book for my 3rd summer I increased my profit by $10,000 from my second summer to my 3rd summer. It is the best book I have read on the subject (not that i have read many) but I put into action what it told me to do and it worked. My usual working day during the summer time involves me seeing 30 families and selling 3-6 of them. That's a lot of rejection, this book helped me deal with all that and have fun at the same time. It all came down to what I was saying to myself! For those cynical folks out there I can send you a copy of my check! Anyway, it costs very little and can transform your life if you just do what it says! Have a fun read and email if you want to chat about it!
  
  
• LIFE CHANGING.... HONESTLY
  By A3C8FSLTONOMU7 on 2004-09-30
  I am a personal development junkie, but like Steve Chandler says in "100 Ways to Motivate Yourself," if you keep searching and reading books you'll eventually find that ONE book that changes your life. For everyone it's different, but for me it was THIS BOOK. It gives you permanent solutions to self-inflicted barriers and roadblocks to our success and well-being in life. What I learned is that it's not the economy, our upbringing, current surroundings, etc. that determines where we are in life, IT'S WHAT WE SAY TO OURSELVES THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE. Enough said, I hope this book is as much a blessing for you as it has been for me...
  
  
• Work miracles with this book! And cure insomnia
  By A3IN2FH1FI347H on 2006-06-30
  The day before yesterday I used this book to create a self-talk tape about finishing my Masters thesis. By the next afternoon (yesterday), a MAJOR obstacle to finishing my thesis, suddenly disappeared! The obstacle was not even something I was doing, it wasn't something under my control. It was my advisor. For months I have been telling him I don't think the program he wants me to use to analyze my data, is going to work, and I've been saying we should use a certain other program. Suddenly yesterday, out of the blue, he says the first program won't work and we should use the other program. A small miracle!
  
  Even if miracles don't immediately happen, I bet if you use Helmstetter's book, you will experience the other thing that happened since I created my self-talk tape two days ago: I had been feeling depressed and panicked about my thesis and how it was stalled. I was getting paralyzed with negative thinking, feeling steeped in stress, despair, disgust at myself, etc. contaminating every minute and every aspect of my life. Very counter-productive. As soon as I created my self-talk tape I felt all of this dark cloud lift off me, and I have felt happy, hopeful and energized, ever since.
  
  I believe the way I have adapted Helmstetter's method turbo-charges its effectiveness. I urge everyone to buy his book. And I suggest the two adaptations I use.
  
  How I use Helmstetter's method: 1.) Use Julia Cameron's (from her book "The Artist's Way") method of writing "blurts," to identify negative self-talk that's holding me back. Reverse all the blurts into positive statements. Ex: Blurt - "I'm such a procrastinator, I'll never get this done." Reverse - "You have received a lot of praise over the years for being incredibly focused and hardworking and completing huge, difficult projects by the deadline no matter what it takes." 2.) Believe that the Universe (a.k.a. God) is helping me. This is effective in the way prayer/meditation/visualization is. Excerpt from my self-talk tape: "The Universe wants you to finish your Thesis, so it is helping you in many ways, to finish it quickly and easily. The magic of the Universe is making your thesis exceptionally excellent. The outcome of your thesis is going to be great. The Universe is taking care of that. When you are on the right path and the Universe is helping you, you NEVER need to worry. You feel deeply happy and at peace as your thesis flows smoothly to completion."
  
  I write "You" in my scripts because they feel more powerful than "I." I record my scripts with New Agey spa music in the background because music has a powerful effect on emotions and the subconscious (just ask Hallmark's ad agency). Also, after I finish speaking the script, I let the tape recorder and music run to the end. Then, when I listen to the tape, it finishes with the music. This is especially great at night when I fall asleep to the tape. Self-talk tapes help me relax and fall asleep!
  
  It's very simple to record and you don't need to be a high-tech perfectionist about it. Just put on a CD, put the tape recorder on a table a couple feet in front of the music, turn on the music, press record, let the music play about 20 seconds, speak the script (repeating each sentence three times), then let the recorder and music run until one or the other finishes.
  
  Listen to your tape every morning while getting dressed, drinking coffee etc., every day while washing dishes, every night as you fall asleep, in your car on the way to work...
  
  Using this book will immediately help you feel wonderful and energized. It will quickly change your life. And it may even work a miracle or two for you.
  
  
• New life from new programming
  By on 1999-11-03
  Just put the scripts on tape, play your tape recorder once or twice every day and positive results happen. You don't have to believe what you are hearing. Your subconscious mind takes the verbal inputs and instructs your behaviour to cause desirable changes to occur. That has been my experience. My sales have quadrupled and my business is showing my competitors the way home.
  
  
• Recommended reading to many people
  By on 2000-09-14
  I have recommended this book to so many people and just gave the only one I had to a friend in need. This book changed my thought process, hence, my life!
  
  
• Excellent. One of the very best.
  By on 2003-03-13
  I am a salesman, a very good salesman. I invest time in reading sales, time management, and self help books trying in each one to find the few golden nuggets that will help me achieve my aims and goals. Most of what I read is the same plain common sense filtered through whatever is the authors theme. Much of what I read is simply impractical. I just wish I had read this book earlier in my career. It's the most immediately practical self help advice that I've read. The affirmation script for internal motivation is alone worth the price of the book. That one script is compelling and life changing. You will not waste your time reading this book.
  
  
• I would talk to myself in this way.
  By A14ZIRZ1B99U6Q on 2004-11-08
  . This is a very good book to help us achieving our goals.
  . I can easily master the skill and successfully help myself.
  . No one can help me better than my own self.
  . Don't wait. No excuse. Do it now!
  . Talk to yourself as often as possible and make it loud!
  . Whatever the subject might be, always think positively.
  . Knowing is nothing. You have to try it to really get it.
  . Once you started, you won't stop succeeding.
  . Create your own talking lists and update them frequently.
  . That's it. Simple and effective.
  
  
• nothing new here - don't waste the time or money
  By A2F3JO6LFW11LZ on 2005-01-30
  this book was a waste of time and money and contained nothing new. all the author tells you is to talk positively to yourself, duh. or make recordings talking positively to yourself and then listen to the tapes. or better yet buy his recordings of positive self talk because you'll believe someone else talking positive about you. what a waste of a book. should be a big zero stars!
  
  

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