Have you ever found yourself saying “I’m rubbish at math” or “I’ve always struggled with grammar”? These types of negative self-talk can seriously impact our goals and overall results.

Our brains are highly suggestible, meaning that the thoughts we allow to linger in our minds can directly impact what we achieve. If we give into negative thoughts and fears, our brain is only too happy to deliver exactly what we ask for.

When it comes to performance, our choice of words is critical. If words can impact our physical state, they can also impact the results we achieve and the standard to which we perform.

Fear is one of the biggest culprits of poor performance. The fear of public speaking, for instance, can seriously impact your ability to deliver a successful speech. If you allow fear to take over and fester in your mind, it will undoubtedly affect your performance.

On the other hand, if you can learn to question your negative thoughts and reframe them, you can significantly improve your performance and ultimately achieve your goals.

So, how do you override your fears and negative thoughts? Here are four tips to help you get started:

1. Adjust your assumptions
Take a closer look at the assumptions you are making. Are they positive or negative? For example, if you assume that mistakes are opportunities to learn, you’ll see failures as a natural part of the learning process. However, if you view mistakes as dangerous and damaging to your reputation, you’re more likely to shy away from taking risks.

2. Remember no one cares
Very often, fear stems from worrying about what other people think. Remember that everyone is thinking about themselves, not you. By accepting that everyone is thinking their own thoughts, you can stop allowing negative thoughts to take hold.

3. Shift your focus
Fear thrives on repetition. If you’re always focused on what you fear, your brain will do everything it can to prove you right. However, if you can shift your focus to something positive, fear will start to reduce and eventually dissipate. Focus on what you want, not what you fear.

4. Don’t be afraid of looking stupid
One of the biggest fears people have is the fear of looking foolish. However, mistakes are a natural part of the learning process and ultimately lead to success. Embrace failure as a necessary step on the path to success.

In conclusion, negative self-talk and fear have a direct impact on our performance and our ability to achieve our goals. By learning to question our assumptions and reframe our thoughts in a positive light, we can vastly improve our performance and ultimately achieve greater success.