In the weight loss space, mental and emotional health seems to be getting more attention. People are talking more openly about their struggles and emotions. People are more open about their decision to seek help for weight loss struggles. And words like self-care, mindfulness, and gratitude are showing up everywhere. But there’s something that hasn’t quite gained the traction it deserves – YET.
There’s something that not enough weight loss coaches are talking about. And if they are, it’s not really with the depth or focus it deserves. But I’m determined to bring this issue and skill to light because it’s one of the most underrated tools in weight loss.
I’m talking about 2.0 Talk. (aka self-talk).
Now before you click away, or roll your eyes and say, “Yeah Jill, I get it,” hear me out. 2.0 Talk isn’t just about saying nice things to yourself. It isn’t about constant pep talks or pie-in-the-sky encouragement. 2.0 Talk is about shifting the conversation that’s already happening in your mind. It’s about changing the narrative that’s playing, even when you don’t realize it.
You’re a human, which means you have a brain. One of the brain’s primary functions is to generate thought. You’ve got a constant dialogue going on in your head, as your brain works to make sense of the world and your place in it. It’s just what brains do.
But that doesn’t mean your brain does this perfectly. Just like any other part of the body, the brain can misfire, mess up, and make mistakes. It generates thoughts that aren’t true. It draws conclusions that are inaccurate. It interprets things incorrectly. Mix this with your baggage, past hurts, fears, and insecurities, and your inner dialogue can go off the rails pretty quickly.
This is where 2.0 Talk comes in. 2.0 Talk changes the conversation in your head. 2.0 Talk responds to automatic thoughts (1.0 NSL thoughts) with more helpful and balanced thoughts.
When you say, “It’s too hard, you can’t do this,” your 2.0 Talk says, “This is tough, and you can do this.” When your critical thoughts (That I call 2.0 NSL thoughts) rev up after you make a mistake, calling you an idiot or a fool, your 2.0 Talk kicks in, reminding you that you’re human and you’re allowed to make mistakes.
When you think about trying another weight loss plan, fear pops up. Your thoughts convince you to avoid, stay safe, and retreat to comfort. But here comes your 2.0 Talk, reminding yourself that you can do hard things and that discomfort is necessary for a transformation to unfold.
If you let the unconscious dialogue in your head run the show, it will. If you let your thoughts go unchecked, you’re in trouble. You can’t always control what initial thoughts pop up. But you can control how you respond. In fact, you must.
2.0 Talk isn’t just some fluffy self-help tool. It’s a critical skill for your weight loss transformation and 2.0 NSL (Neuro-Slim Life). Like anything else, it’s new and different. Which means it’ll take some practice. But don’t all good things?
