How To Talk To Yourself

Imagine this: a friend or your child comes to you, clearly upset.

They've made a mistake—something they're ashamed of or frustrated by.

What do you do? Do you tell them how badly they messed up? Do you judge them for not knowing better? Or do you offer them empathy, support, and encouragement? Of course, you'd choose kindness.

You'd tell them that mistakes happen, and they have the ability to learn from it.

You'd reassure them that one mistake doesn't define their worth.

Now, think about how you respond to yourself when you make a mistake.

Are you just as kind to yourself? The truth is, it’s not that simple.

It’s easier said than done, especially when you feel like you’ve really messed things up.

You might think, “How can I be kind to myself when I’ve done something wrong?” It can feel disingenuous, even a little absurd, to offer yourself kindness in those moments.

There’s probably a cynical voice going in the back of your head now, saying, “Sure, just tell yourself it’s all fine when it’s clearly not.

” And here’s where the real challenge lies: it’s hard to be kind to yourself when you’re in the middle of feeling bad about something.

But it’s not impossible.

Self-kindness doesn’t mean ignoring your mistakes or pretending everything’s perfect.

It means approaching yourself with the same empathy and understanding you’d offer to someone else.

It just takes a little practice and a few tricks.

One trick is to imagine you’re talking to a friend instead of yourself.

If you wouldn’t say something harsh to them, why say it to yourself?

Another tip is to put things in perspective.

Sure, you might have made a mistake, but how big is it really in the grand scheme of things? Here's an example of how this situation can unfold in your head and where you should guide this dialogue: “I really messed up today at work.

I made a mistake that’s going to affect my team, and I can’t believe I did something so stupid.

I should’ve known better.

" Instead of saying, “You always mess things up.

You’re just not good enough for this,” try shifting the conversation: “Okay, I made a mistake.

It’s not the end of the world, even though it feels big right now.

If my partner or my best friend came to me and told me they made the same mistake, what would I say to them? I’d probably remind them that everyone makes mistakes, and this one moment doesn’t define them.

So, why can’t I extend that same understanding to myself? Just like I would tell them, I need to remind myself that this is something I can learn from and move on.

And how big is this mistake in the grand scheme of things? A week from now, will it even matter? Sure, it feels terrible now, but I know this feeling won’t last forever.

I’ve handled challenges before, and I can handle this.

Everyone slips up sometimes, and that’s okay.

I’m still capable of doing great work, and this doesn’t change that.

”

Taking that first step toward creating a compassionate and constructive internal dialogue is essential, but there is more.

Tune in to the next episode, in which I discuss forgiveness, the most powerful tool we have and one many struggle with.

See you there.

Imagine this: you've made a mistake that's been weighing heavily on you.

Perhaps you've hurt someone or acted in a way that doesn't align with who you want to be.

Days or even weeks later, the guilt lingers, replaying the moment over and over in your mind.

It's easy to get stuck in that guilt, and sometimes, without realizing it, we punish ourselves for it—whether through negative self-talk, self-sabotage, or simply not allowing ourselves to move on.

When we hurt someone else, it's natural to seek their forgiveness.

We apologize, ask for their understanding, and hope to repair the damage.

But here's the thing: asking for forgiveness from others is important, but it's even more crucial to ask for forgiveness from ourselves.

Until we release that guilt we hold inside, we remain stuck.

That internal forgiveness is what truly allows us to heal and move forward.

Guilt often makes us feel like we deserve punishment.

When no external punishment comes, we tend to turn inward and punish ourselves instead.

This might happen through accusatory self-talk, where we repeatedly berate ourselves for the mistake.

Or we might act in ways that go against our own best interest, consciously or unconsciously sabotaging ourselves because we believe we deserve it.

Recognizing this guilt is the first step toward forgiveness.

Ask yourself: Do I feel like I deserve to be punished for something I've done? Am I holding onto that guilt as a way to punish myself? Sometimes, this guilt manifests as self-harm or self-abusive behavior, even if it's subtle.

Feeling trapped in these patterns is often a sign that you haven't truly forgiven yourself, and forgiving yourself is a big part of being kind to yourself.

Just as you would forgive a friend for a mistake because you care about them, you should extend that same compassion to yourself.

If you love yourself, you should let go of the guilt, release that burden, and move forward.

When it comes to self-talk, this means adopting a forgiving tone.

Instead of criticizing yourself, use words like, "I forgive myself for what happened," or "I won't let that happen again, and I'm committed to doing better.

" Or simply, "I recognize that I was wrong, but I also acknowledge that I am more than my mistakes.

" Acknowledging that you were wrong is a powerful form of forgiveness because it allows you to separate the mistake from your identity.

You're not denying the error, but you're also not letting it define who you are.

Once you've identified where the guilt comes from, it's helpful to take it a step further: What principle can you adopt to avoid this in the future? For example, if you talked behind someone's back and hurt them, you can forgive yourself by recognizing the harm and then setting a personal principle: "I will not speak behind others' backs.

" This turns the mistake into a learning moment and prevents the same guilt from resurfacing in the future.

Here's an example of an internal conversation and how to shift it.

You might think, "I still feel terrible about how I treated my colleague.

I shouldn't have spoken about them behind their back, and now I can't stop thinking about how it affected them.

" Now, instead of saying, "You were wrong.

You deserve to feel guilty.

This is your punishment, and now you've ruined everything," shift the conversation.

Say, "Yes, I was wrong to speak behind their back.

But I forgive myself.

I understand that I made a mistake, and I'm committed to making sure this doesn't happen again.

I've learned from this that I need to adopt a principle for myself: no more talking behind people's backs.

That way, I can prevent this from happening again in the future.

I forgive myself for the mistake, and I'll move forward with this new principle in mind.

I'm human and learning.

This mistake doesn't define me, and I'm moving forward.

"

In the next chapter, we will discuss how viewing such mistakes as moments in time can really help our internal dialogue.

See you there.

Let's begin with a simple exercise.

In your mind, describe yourself by focusing on something you feel negatively about, using the phrase "I am.

" For instance, you might say, "I am bad at math" or "I am terrible at sticking to a routine.

" Take a moment to think of a few sentences that start with "I am," and then continue with this chapter.

Pause in three. Two. One.

Ready to move on, or need more time?

I think you are ready, so let's move on.

What were the sentences that came to mind? Did you notice how those statements describe you as if who you are right now is permanent, as though there’s no room for change? But what if you added just one word? What if you said, "I’m currently bad at math"? That small shift—the word "currently"—introduces the element of time.

It shows that while you may be in this place today, it’s not where you have to stay.

You’re acknowledging that you can evolve, grow, and be different in the future.

By adding "currently," you introduce the possibility of change, which is the essence of thinking fourth-dimensionally.

It suggests that who you are today is just one part of your journey, not the final destination.

When you "talk" fourth-dimensionally, you begin to believe that you can change—and that belief is a powerful part of growth.

The more you see yourself as evolving rather than fixed, the more open you become to the possibility of growing and improving.

And that’s the mindset we’re aiming for—one that embraces the potential for change.

Now, let’s repeat the exercise, but with a twist.

This time, start the sentence with "I used to be," focusing on something you’ve already changed.

Take a moment and think of a few things that begin with "I used to be."

Pause in three. Two. One.

Ready to move on, or need more time?

I think you are ready, so let's move on.

What did you come up with? Maybe you said something like, "I used to be a bad swimmer, but I took lessons, and now I’m better," or "I used to be shy, but I’ve gained more confidence over time.

" When you say, "I used to be," you recognize that change is possible.

You’ve already evolved in some areas of your life, and that’s proof that you can continue to grow and improve.

Your belief in the ability to change is critical and is greatly affected by how you talk to yourself.

Here’s another tip for you.

One way we can support lasting change is by adopting new principles.

We mentioned principles as part of forgiveness, but principles also play a crucial role here.

Principles give us the scaffolding we need to support that change.

For example, you might say, "I used to talk ill about others behind their back, but now that I’ve adopted a principle of speaking kindly about people, I’m no longer doing that.

" When you adopt principles that align with the person you want to become, they guide your actions and support your evolution over time.

The value of thinking fourth dimensionally is that it opens the door to change and growth.

It allows you to believe in the possibility of change, and that belief is critical to becoming the person you want to be.

So, start introducing 'currently' and 'used to' in your internal dialogue.

Adopt the principles of who you want to be and use them when talking to yourself.

In the next chapter, we will discuss biases, how they interfere, and what we can do to mitigate them.

Ready when you are.

In the previous chapter, we delved into the power of thinking fourth dimensionally—the concept that you're not fixed in time but can change and evolve.

Embracing this mindset is like adopting a superpower.

It allows you to see yourself not just as you are today but as someone who is constantly evolving.

This superpower enables you to believe in change, shape your future self, and break free from old patterns.

However, every hero faces a villain.

In your story, the villain isn't some external force—it's your own mind.

You are your own worst enemy when it comes to change, and that's because of the cognitive biases at play inside you.

Biases are mental shortcuts your brain uses to make sense of the world, but they often distort reality and hold you back from the change you're capable of.

These biases work quietly, holding you back from the very growth you're capable of.

While four-dimensional thinking and adopting principles can promote change, these biases are the forces working against it.

To fully unlock your ability to change, you need to recognize the villain.

You need to understand how these biases distort your view of yourself and your potential.

Only by acknowledging the powers that are blocking your path can you begin to overcome them.

While many biases work against us, we will explore only three in this chapter.

We'll start with one of the most common biases: confirmation bias.

This is the tendency to seek out information that confirms what you already believe, while ignoring any evidence that contradicts it.

It's like wearing blinders: you only see what fits with your current view, and everything else fades into the background.

When you're trying to change, confirmation bias makes it hard to move forward.

If you believe you're not good at something—whether it's public speaking, learning new skills, or even forming healthy habits—confirmation bias will lead you to focus only on your failures.

You'll ignore your successes, reinforcing the narrative that you're incapable of change.

Imagine you've convinced yourself that you're bad at public speaking.

After a presentation, you only remember the moment when you stumbled over your words, completely ignoring the positive feedback from the audience.

In your mind, that single moment of doubt confirms, "I'm not good at this.

" But you're not seeing the full picture.

Confirmation bias has filtered out the evidence that challenges this belief, leaving you stuck in a false narrative.

Another villain is the halo effect, but in reverse.

Normally, the halo effect makes us view someone or something positively based on one good trait.

In reverse, however, we let one negative trait or experience define our entire perception of ourselves.

One mistake becomes the lens through which we see ourselves, overshadowing our strengths.

For example, you miss a deadline at work.

Instead of seeing this as an isolated event, you allow it to cloud your judgment, thinking, "I missed the deadline, so I'm unreliable and bad at my job.

" The reverse halo effect makes this one mistake feel like it defines your entire work ethic, even though it's just one moment.

You forget all the times when you met deadlines and performed well, and now you're letting one failure define who you are.

The last bias we'll explore is emotional reasoning.

This is when you assume that because you feel a certain way, it must be true.

If you feel anxious or unworthy, emotional reasoning will make you believe that you are unworthy, even if the evidence shows otherwise.

Before starting a new project, you feel anxious.

Emotional reasoning kicks in, and you think, "Because I feel nervous, I'm probably incapable of doing this.

" But the truth is, anxiety is a normal response to new challenges.

It doesn't mean you're incapable.

Emotional reasoning makes you mistake your feelings for facts, preventing you from taking on new opportunities.

These biases and others form a mental barrier that makes change feel impossible.

Confirmation bias reinforces your old beliefs, the halo effect in reverse makes you define yourself by your worst moments, and emotional reasoning tricks you into believing that your feelings reflect reality.

If we want to unlock our ability to change, we need to fight back against these biases.

And I'll show you how.

The first step is recognizing them for what they are: mental distortions that are holding you back.

Once you recognize them, you can start challenging them and create a more accurate, balanced internal dialogue.

Here are two practical strategies to weaken the grip these biases have on you: First, educate yourself about cognitive biases.

The more you understand cognitive biases, the better equipped you are to recognize them when they show up in your thinking.

Educate yourself about these and other biases so that when they show up in your thinking and start distorting your internal conversations, you can call them out.

When you know these biases are at play, they lose much of their power.

Awareness is the first step to defeating them.

Next, change the Battlefield

Cognitive biases thrive when they stay hidden in your thoughts, subtly influencing your mind. But you can weaken their hold by taking the battle outside of your head. By externalizing your internal dialogue through journaling, you bring the fight to a place where you have more control. On paper, biases lose their grip, allowing you to see your thoughts more clearly and challenge them objectively. Whether you use a notebook or your phone, moving the conversation out of your mind gives you a new advantage in overcoming these biases.

Here's an example of an Internal Conversation and how you can mitigate the biases:

“I felt so nervous during that presentation, so I must be bad at public speaking.”

Instead of saying:

“Because I felt anxious, it means I’m not capable.” 

Shift the conversation:

“Yes, I felt nervous, but that’s normal. Just because I was anxious doesn’t mean I’m not capable. That's just emotional reasoning messing with me. I’ve handled challenges before, and I can handle this too."

“I’m learning. My feelings don’t define my abilities, and these biases don’t define who I am.”

Such internal dialogue will weaken the bias at play. After that, go ahead and give yourself a smile in the mirror. You can also do that now. By educating yourself about these biases, you are already mitigating them. Good for you!

You are already starting to break free from the cognitive biases holding you back. Once you recognize them and take steps to confront them, you clear the path for real, lasting change.

The next chapter concludes the first part and sets the stage for part 2. You're doing great, and there is more to come.  

See you there.

So far, we've explored several key ideas that are essential in helping you make meaningful changes in your life.

Before we move forward, it's important to take a step back and see how all these pieces fit together.

The first idea we touched on is kindness.

Being kind to yourself is the foundation for any change you want to make.

Without kindness, it's easy to fall into patterns of self-criticism and harshness, which only make growth harder.

By practicing self-kindness, you create a more compassionate internal dialogue that allows you to move forward with less fear and more understanding of your journey.

Closely tied to kindness is the act of forgiveness.

We've all made mistakes, and often, we are our harshest critics.

Forgiving yourself is a crucial part of self-kindness.

When you can forgive yourself for past errors, you release the weight of guilt and allow yourself to move forward.

It's not about ignoring your mistakes but recognizing that they are part of your growth and that you are more than your missteps.

Next, we discussed thinking four-dimensionally.

This concept allows you to break free from the mindset that you are stuck in one place, one version of yourself.

By thinking four-dimensionally, you realize that who you are today doesn’t define who you can be tomorrow.

It’s a mindset that opens the door to growth by embracing change and your potential to evolve over time.

Principles play a key role in shaping who you want to become.

When you adopt a new principle, you create a guideline for yourself—a rule that helps you stay aligned with your goals.

Principles help you navigate the complexities of life by giving you a clear sense of direction.

However, as we explored in the last chapter, there are forces working against change.

Cognitive biases are the villain in this story.

They try to keep you stuck by distorting your thinking and reinforcing old patterns.

Biases like confirmation bias, emotional reasoning, and the halo effect hold you back from seeing your potential clearly, and overcoming them is essential to embracing change.

So, how do all these concepts come together? They set the stage for courage, one of the most important qualities you'll need on your journey.

Change is scary, and facing that fear requires courage.

Courage allows you to act even when things are uncertain, and it helps you move forward despite the risks.

In the next chapter, we'll explore how to build courage and how encouragement is key to fueling that courage.

Encouragement isn't just about cheering yourself up when you're feeling down—it's about giving yourself the support and belief you need to face challenges, whether you're at a low point or about to tackle something big.

But for now, reflect on the tools you've gained so far.

You've learned about being kind to yourself, thinking four-dimensionally, setting principles to guide and define your future self, and recognizing biases.

Each of these is a step toward change, and they all work together to help you build the courage you need to take the next leap.

In the final part of this audiobook, we'll explore how you can strengthen your internal voice and prepare for growth.

Before that, take a moment to recognize your progress so far.

If you feel ready, you can even explore a few principles to help guide your way forward.

Here's a great principle to start with: "From now on, I'll try and be kinder to myself.

" Give it a thought, and I'll see you when you are ready.

Imagine this: you've made a mistake at work—maybe you missed a deadline or said something you regret in a meeting.

Now, that inner voice starts tearing into you, asking how you could mess this up and insisting you're never going to get it right.

We've already talked about the importance of being kind to yourself and practicing forgiveness in these moments, but this kind of negative self-talk has another effect, it discourages you.

When you discourage yourself, you drain your ability to act.

This self-criticism leaves you feeling low, chipping away at your courage and making it harder to face the next challenge.

To understand this better, think of your courage like a battery.

A battery has two sides: a minus and a plus.

On the minus side is fear, the doubts and worries you face when stepping into the unknown.

On the plus side is your future self—the person you want to become, the goals you want to achieve, the growth you're striving for.

To move from fear, the minus, to your future self, the plus, you need energy.

That energy is courage.

But courage, like a battery, can either be charged or discharged.

When you engage in negative self-talk, like berating yourself for mistakes, you are discharging your courage.

You're draining the energy needed to move forward, making the gap between fear and growth feel broader and more challenging to cross.

But just like a battery, there's a plus side—and yes, pun intended.

You can also charge your courage.

The way you do that is through encouragement.

Encouragement gives you the energy to act, helping you face fear and move toward the future self you want to become.

Encouragement can come from others—supportive words from a friend, a mentor, or a loved one—but the most important and reliable source of encouragement comes from within.

By encouraging yourself, telling yourself, "I can do this," or "I'll get it better next time," you build the courage needed to keep moving forward, even when fear is present.

Just as discouragement discharges your courage, encouragement charges it, fueling your ability to take on whatever challenge lies ahead.

Before you can fully charge your courage, the first step is to get rid of the things that are constantly draining it.

It's like trying to fill a bucket with water while there's a hole at the bottom—it will never stay full.

Disappointing thoughts and people in your life can drain your courage, making it harder to build up the energy you need to take action.

Identify these sources of discouragement, whether they come from external influences or from within your own mind.

Once you start reducing their impact, you create the space to charge your courage through encouragement.

After you've distanced yourself from discouraging elements in your life, you're probably wondering how you can now add more encouragement.

The good news is, you're already doing it.

By implementing the strategies we've discussed—being kind, forgiving, and thinking four-dimensionally—you're already building encouragement and building up your courage.

These practices lay the foundation for a more positive internal dialogue, helping you charge your courage daily.

Let's explore a couple of strategies you can use to increase your encouragement further.

One powerful way to reduce discouragement is to catch and reframe negative self-talk.

Instead of saying, "I'll never get this right," try shifting to, "I'm still learning and improving with every step.

" By reframing, you turn discouraging thoughts into opportunities for growth, which boosts your courage.

Another strategy is to set small, achievable goals.

Break big challenges down into smaller, manageable tasks.

Achieving small wins builds momentum and encourages you to keep moving forward.

Each small success reinforces your belief in your ability, charging your courage bit by bit.

By combining what we've discussed so far, you can build the courage needed for growth.

Courage is your source of energy, and without it, growth is nearly impossible.

In the next chapter, we'll see how with simple daily routines you can make all that work.

See you soon.

Changing the way we talk to ourselves isn't something you can fix just once and forget about.

It's like training for a marathon; it requires consistent effort.

If you want to be kinder to yourself, more forgiving, and more in control of your thoughts, you need a place to practice.

That's where introspection comes in.

Introspection is different from the spontaneous, uncontrolled internal conversations we all have throughout the day.

It's a deliberate and controlled moment where we guide our internal voice instead of letting it run unchecked.

This practice has been around for centuries across various cultures and religions, including Judaism, Stoicism, and Buddhism.

Each tradition uses introspection to reflect on actions, thoughts, and life.

During these sessions, the goal is to intentionally train your mind to be kinder to yourself, practice forgiveness, encourage yourself, and strengthen your cognitive "muscles.

" Planning is key to making introspection effective.

It doesn't happen by accident.

You need to set aside a specific time and place for this practice—ideally five to ten minutes a day.

Making it a routine is crucial because the more regular the practice, the more natural it will become.

When you practice guided self-talk during your introspective sessions, start with small victories.

These are achievements from your day, no matter how minor they may seem.

It could be as simple as getting out of bed on time or sticking to a routine like brushing your teeth.

Small victories matter because they build momentum and give you a sense of accomplishment, which fuels encouragement.

Here's how you might begin your self-talk session.

Reflect on small wins by saying something like, "Today, I got out of bed at my planned time.

I took the time to brush my teeth, and I even stuck to my commitment of taking five minutes for introspection.

" Then, shift to encouragement: "These may seem small, but they are important steps in maintaining consistency.

I'm showing up for myself, and that's worth celebrating.

"

If you catch yourself focusing on something you didn't do well, practice reframing: "I may not have finished that task at work, but I'm learning and improving.

Tomorrow is another opportunity to handle it better.

" Acknowledge mistakes without berating yourself.

It's important not to overlook areas where things didn't go well.

Acknowledge them, not as a way to punish yourself, but to reflect on what can be done.

Ask yourself, "Is there a principle I can adopt to avoid this next time?" or "What positive actions can I take to correct this?" Keeping the initiative on your side directs the experience toward growth and improvement, rather than guilt or self-criticism.

If you find it difficult to guide these conversations on your own, you can use ChatGPT as a partner in your introspection.

Prompt ChatGPT with something like, "You are my internal voice.

Guide me as I describe my day to you, and help me apply strategies like kindness, forgiveness, encouragement, and reframing negative thoughts.

" This way, ChatGPT can act as a support system, helping you engage with your thoughts and practice the strategies we've discussed in a more structured way.

We are almost at the end.

Well done.

The next chapter discusses filtering outside noise to keep our minds clear and focused.

Ready when you are.

Imagine this: you're scrolling through social media, and every few posts, you encounter ads for products that promise to make you look better, feel better, or perform better at work.

As you continue scrolling, you see posts from people who seem to be doing amazingly well—achieving their fitness goals, succeeding in their careers, and traveling the world.

Suddenly, you can't help but think, "Why am I not doing that? Why am I not as successful?" This is the effect of noise.

It's cluttering your mind, filling it with comparisons and distractions that distort how you see yourself.

Instead of focusing on your own progress or goals, the noise makes you feel inadequate or anxious.

And the worst part? It doesn’t help you improve in any way.

In fact, it makes it harder to hear your own thoughts or act on them.

Some of the main sources of noise include social media, news outlets, and uninformed opinions from others.

Social media constantly exposes you to others' seemingly perfect lives, leading to feelings of inadequacy and amplifying the halo effect, where you believe everyone else is more successful or happy than you.

News outlets sell certainty mixed with uncertainty, leaving you anxious and overwhelmed.

Uninformed opinions from others often come as unsolicited advice or feedback that's not grounded in actual knowledge, creating doubts and confusion and adding unnecessary noise to your internal dialogue.

These all clutter your mind and judgment, making growth near impossible.

To reduce this noise, think of your mind as a garden.

Tend to it, groom what needs grooming, and weed out the noise.

In social media, for example, you can remove ads that make you feel inadequate.

You can unfollow or mute accounts that trigger negative self-talk or make you feel less.

Limit your news consumption.

Keep yourself informed, but try reducing your exposure to news that makes you anxious or unsettled.

Apply selective listening to people who don’t fully understand your situation or goals.

Their hearts might be in the right place, but their mindset might not.

Adopting these strategies will significantly reduce noise and clarify your internal conversations.

Without the clutter of social media, news, or unhelpful opinions, you'll have more mental space to focus on what truly matters to you: your goals, values, and progress.

Here's a simple plan to start filtering out the noise in your life: First, identify where the noise in your mind is coming from, such as social media, news, or opinions.

Then, reflect on how these sources impact your internal dialogue and what can be done to mitigate that.

Lastly, have a plan to reduce or eliminate them, starting with small steps like unfollowing noisy sources.

If you want to take it further, here are a few principles to consider: Once a week, review your social feed and unfollow or mute any accounts, topics, or ads that negatively affect you.

Actively groom your feed to ensure it remains positive and supportive.

Limit your news consumption to specific times and avoid sources that manipulate you by creating anxiety through a mix of certainty and uncertainty.

Only take advice from people you trust or who have experience in the area they are advising on.

Politely filter out unsolicited opinions from people who do not understand your situation.

Remember, noise is always around us.

Just like a garden requires regular care and attention, mental hygiene is an ongoing task that requires continuous effort.

While managing the noise from social media, news, and unsolicited opinions is challenging, the rewards are high.

By reducing noise, even a little, you open yourself to new opportunities.

You'll have more clarity, better self-talk, and greater control over your thoughts and decisions.

It's a challenge worth taking on because the more you manage the noise, the more room you create for growth, creativity, and actual progress.

This audiobook is a great example.

By giving it space and opening up to it, you allow yourself to grow.

And I thank you for that.

I hope you already see the benefits of the strategies outlined here and in previous chapters.

We have one last chapter coming up.

I'll see you there.

Before I wrap this up, I want to express my gratitude to my friend, teacher, and mentor for 30 years, Oded Reichsfeld.

We've shared countless in-depth conversations about the nature of men, growth, and self-realization.

Many of the principles I hold dear in my life are a direct result of these conversations and the life lessons they contain.

Thank you, Oded, for your friendship, guidance, and wisdom.

Now, let's reflect on everything we've discussed and consider what we can do next.

How we talk to ourselves is at the core of how we grow, face challenges, and navigate life.

We've explored how being kind to ourselves—whether through forgiveness, self-compassion, or encouragement—can transform the way we live.

Often, we're our own worst critics, but changing that internal dialogue can be incredibly powerful.

Throughout this audiobook, we've touched on the idea that we're not fixed in time.

Who we are today doesn't define who we'll be tomorrow.

Recognizing that we're constantly evolving opens up the possibility for real growth.

Part of that growth involves learning how to manage the noise around us—social media, news, and even the opinions of others can clutter our minds and cloud our thinking.

The more we reduce that noise, the clearer our internal conversations become.

Incorporating these ideas into your life doesn't have to be overwhelming.

It's all about taking small, practical steps that fit into your daily routine.

Maybe you start by setting aside just five minutes a day to reflect, or perhaps you make it a habit to regularly review your social media feed and remove things that don't serve you.

It could be as simple as being a bit more forgiving with yourself when you make a mistake or encouraging yourself to take on something outside your comfort zone.

The most important part is making room for these conversations with yourself.

It doesn't have to be perfect—what matters is that you're giving it attention and making progress over time.

Remember, these practices don't happen overnight.

It's a journey that requires patience and persistence.

One suggestion I'd like to make is to revisit this audiobook every once in a while.

Sometimes, when we hear things a second or third time, they resonate differently.

You might find new insights or see how much you've grown since the first time you listened.

Finally, consider sharing these concepts with someone close to you—a friend or a loved one.

Discussing these ideas together can be incredibly helpful.

Not only can you support each other, but you'll also gain new perspectives that can deepen your own understanding.

Plus, when you're both on the same page about how you approach self-talk and growth, it becomes easier to stay accountable and encourage one another.

Thank you for listening, and thank you for making space for these important conversations with yourself.

The work you're doing is valuable, and it's something you'll continue to benefit from as you move forward.

I hope this audiobook has been helpful and that the strategies we've discussed will continue to serve you well.