OVERCOMING NEGATIVE INNER DIALOGUE 

ARE YOU PLAYING TO WIN OR PLAYING NOT TO LOSE?

In high school I wrestled in the Washington State Wrestling Championships. I was winning my match 4 to 0. At the half way point, rather than continuing to increase my lead I got scared. I didn't want to make any mistakes so rather than wrestling to win, I was wrestling to not lose.

I made some mistakes and eventually lost my match 5 to 4.

Looking back on this experience, the powerful lesson I learned is to play the game of life to win vs. not to lose. In other words, to choose faith over fear.

Making decisions out of fear does not feel good. Fear will limit your creativity and your potential. In my case, it created a self-fulfilling prophecy. I was afraid to make mistakes. I was afraid to lose my wrestling match and in the end, I did.

When you are scared, take a moment and remind yourself all of the challenges you have been through and all of them you have overcome. Remembering these things...