Phil Gilkes: Lou, last time we talked, you shared the importance of self-efficacy and affirmations. How can we leverage these principles when our clients are feeling low energy and stuck in negative self-talk?

Lou Tice: Great question, Phil. When clients feel low energy and trapped in negative self-talk, it's crucial to help them first recognize and acknowledge those feelings. Self-awareness is the starting point. Encourage them to be mindful of their thoughts and emotions without judgment. This awareness is the first step in taking control of their mental state.

Phil Gilkes: Once they’re aware, what’s the next step?

Lou Tice: The next step is to help them interrupt the negative cycle. One effective way to do this is through positive affirmations. Affirmations are powerful statements that reinforce their strengths and capabilities. They can help shift their mindset from negative to positive. Encourage your clients to create personalized affirmations that resonate with them and address their specific challenges.

Phil Gilkes: Can you give an example of how to use affirmations with clients in this context?

Lou Tice: Certainly. Let’s say a client is feeling stuck and doubting their abilities. Guide them to create an affirmation like, “I am capable and resilient. I have overcome challenges before, and I can do it again.” Encourage them to repeat this affirmation multiple times a day, especially when they notice negative thoughts creeping in. Consistency in repeating affirmations can help rewire their brain to focus on positive beliefs.

Phil Gilkes: That makes sense. How does self-efficacy fit into this?

Lou Tice: Self-efficacy is about believing in their ability to succeed in specific situations. Building self-efficacy involves setting small, achievable goals that allow them to experience success. Help your clients identify small, actionable steps they can take toward their larger goals. Each success, no matter how small, builds their confidence and helps break out of the negative cycle.

Phil Gilkes: So, setting and achieving small goals can boost their confidence and energy levels.

Lou Tice: Exactly. When clients achieve these small goals, they get a sense of accomplishment that fuels their motivation and energy. Over time, this builds a positive feedback loop where their increased self-efficacy leads to greater success and well-being. For example, if a client feels overwhelmed by a large project, guide them to break it down into smaller tasks and celebrate each completed task.

Phil Gilkes: What if someone is really struggling to find the motivation to start?

Lou Tice: Encourage them to start small. Even tiny steps can make a big difference. Begin with something manageable, like a short walk or a small task they’ve been putting off. The key is to help them experience a quick win, which can build momentum. You can also encourage them to keep a journal of their successes, no matter how minor they seem. This can serve as a powerful reminder of their progress and abilities.

Phil Gilkes: It sounds like consistency is key here.

Lou Tice: Absolutely. Consistency in practicing affirmations and setting small goals is essential. Over time, these practices can rewire their brain to focus on the positive and increase their overall self-efficacy. Encourage your clients to make these practices a daily habit. Regularly revisiting and revising their affirmations and goals can also keep them engaged and motivated.

Phil Gilkes: Thanks, Lou. This is really helpful. I’ll start integrating these practices into my coaching sessions.

Lou Tice: You’re welcome, Phil. Remember: It's a journey. Encourage your clients to be patient with themselves and keep reinforcing those positive beliefs. They’ll see the change over time. Additionally, remind them that setbacks are a natural part of the process. It’s important to view them as learning opportunities rather than failures. By maintaining a positive and resilient mindset, they can overcome these challenges and continue moving forward.

Phil Gilkes: Do you have an example of a time when you helped someone with these issues?

Lou Tice: Yes, actually. I worked with a young woman named Sarah who was struggling with her career. She was very talented but constantly doubted her abilities and was stuck in negative self-talk. She felt overwhelmed by the demands of her job and lacked the energy and motivation to move forward.

I started by helping Sarah recognize her negative thought patterns and guided her to acknowledge these feelings without judgment. We had her create a series of positive affirmations tailored to her strengths and goals. One of her affirmations was, “I am a skilled and valuable professional. I am capable of achieving my career goals.”

Next, we set small, achievable goals for her. One of her initial goals was to organize her workspace and prioritize her daily tasks. As she completed these small tasks, I encouraged her to celebrate each success, no matter how minor it seemed. This helped her build a sense of accomplishment and gradually increased her self-efficacy.

Over time, Sarah’s confidence grew. She began to tackle larger projects and took on more responsibilities at work. By consistently practicing her affirmations and setting achievable goals, she was able to break out of her negative cycle and achieve significant progress in her career. Her energy levels and motivation improved, and she started to see herself as a capable and resilient professional.

Phil Gilkes: That’s an inspiring story, Lou. It really illustrates how powerful these principles can be when applied consistently.

Lou Tice: Absolutely, Phil. It’s all about helping others build a foundation of positive beliefs and achievable goals. With patience and consistency, they can transform their mindset and experience significant positive changes in their professional and personal lives.

-courtesy Coach Phil

Lou Tice was an educator and coach. Along with his wife Diane Tice, they co-founded the Pacific Institute, an organization dedicated to performance improvement and professional development. His work often revolved around the concepts of self-esteem, goal-setting, and leadership.

This is a series of articles around what I feel Lou would share with me today if he were still with us. His impact on the world and me was wonderful! His legacy lives on through the many people The Pacific Institute impacted, including Businesses and sports Teams, reducing the numbers on welfare systems, reducing recidivism, Apartheid in South Africa, and transitioning from a communist regime.

Lou Tice firmly believed that we become what we think about most of the time, and his teachings centered around using our thoughts to shape a better reality for ourselves.

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