Ep. 103 - Affirmations, Self-Talk and Filtering for Strength

You’ve always been affirming something—whether you realized it or not.

In this episode, I explore why affirmations can feel cringey to some and grounding to others—and how much of that has to do with language, not logic. I break down the connection between affirmations and self-talk, the neuroscience of repetition and identity, and why most of us have been unintentionally affirming negative beliefs for years.

I also guide you through a fun, visual, spy-movie-style exercise to help rewire what your brain is filtering for—so you can start aligning your self-talk with who you truly are. This isn’t about becoming someone new, per se. It’s about syncing with the version of you that’s already in "your file."

Key Topics Covered

• What affirmations really are—and why they’ve been misunderstood
• The connection between negative self-talk and negative affirmation
• Louise Hay’s legacy and the present-tense “I am” structure
• Why your brain filters reality based on what it’s told to find (RAS)
• The left-turn / right-turn metaphor as a model for identity redirection
• The spy movie visual: why pulling your “file” matters psychologically
• How to use emotion, repetition, and intention to build new beliefs

Takeaways

• If you’ve been repeating it with emotion and conviction, it’s an affirmation.
• Resistance to positive affirmations often comes from the label—not the process.
• Your brain is already affirming something. The difference is whether you’re choosing it.
• You’ve been making left turns unconsciously—right turns are just as available.
• The RAS follows the directive you give it. You get to tell your brain what to look for.
• Visual exercises (like the “agent stat screen”) help bypass dissonance and let you experience change—on an embodied level.

What To Do Next:

• Share this episode with someone who’s outgrown their old file.
• Leave a rating or review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to help others find the show.
• Listen to Episode 102 with endurance runner, teacher, and mental health advocate Casey Stillwagon—founder of @Run5555km. Learn the personal story behind his mission to run 5,555 kilometers, the heart behind the mantra Stronger Every Stride, and how you can set your own goal and join the movement by tagging your runs with #StrongerEveryStride, #Run5555km, and @Run5555km.
• Every mile counts. Every step counts. Every person matters. Thank you for listening.

Cited In This Episode:

Louise Hay

Muppets Most Wanted (Clip - Constantine Uncovered)
Mission Impossible (Ethan Hunt)
The Bourne Identity (Jason Bourne)
Alias (Sydney Bristow)
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (Official Trailer)
Jumanji: The Next Level (Official Trailer)

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