Ignite your Inner Cheerleader

by Rochelle Melander

Last weekend, I went to the Milwaukee Marathon to cheer on a friend. As I walked to the race, the family and friends of faster runners made their way to their cars. I overheard them talking about the next best place to see their runner.

I found a spot on the sidelines next to a couple, who were cheering on the runners. The woman was a natural cheerleader, “You’re doing great! Keep going.”

Her partner said, “I’m ready to go.”

She said, “Not yet. I’m having fun.”

And for the next twenty minutes, I listened to her clap and cheer on the runners.

“You’ve got this! You look amazing Good job!”

And you know what?

Her cheering had an immediate effect on the participants. The walkers started running. The runners who’d slowed down, sped up. The runners who looked down and defeated, stood straighter and smiled.

“Wow,” I thought. “This positivity stuff really works.”

There’s research to back me up. Sports teams do better when they’re cheered on.

But what about you?

Would you write more and work better if you had an inner cheerleader instead of an inner critic?

I’m going to answer that for you.

Yes, you would.

The research clearly shows that positive self-talk benefits mental health, performance, and your connection to yourself and others. When you practice positive self-talk, you feel encouraged and motivated. You will probably do better, feel more engaged and have fun.

Today’s quest will help you develop your inner cheerleader. Try it.

The Quest

Because of the negativity bias, we tend to remember more of the negative things people say to us. We may even remember positive experiences in a negative way. Because of that, your inner critic never lacks for something to say. But your inner cheerleader? They need a script. You’re going to write one. Find a journal or open a blank document. For these exercises, you want to record all of the positive things people have said in one place.

REMEMBER

• When has someone acknowledged, thanked, encouraged, or supported you? What happened? What did they say? Jot down what you can remember about each experience. Try to remember sensory details as well as how the experience felt in your body.

• How do you support others? How have you seen mentors support others? Write down the things you or others have said.

COLLECT

• Have you watched mentors or coaches in movies, books, and songs and thought, “I wish they were talking to me?” Why can’t they be? List examples and borrow their words for your own inner voice. (Check out my list of favorite inspiring songs.)

CHOOSE

Make a list of all the positive phrases people have said to you and others. Then choose three to five encouraging phrases to repeat to yourself every day. Record them on sticky notes and post them near your writing area. Recall them in the morning when you journal. Repeat them like mantras. Use them to talk back to the inner critic. See if it helps you experience your writing in a new way.

Practice, Practice, practice

Positive self-talk doesn’t work unless you do it. Commit to giving yourself a pep talk every single day.

Game Play Tips

• Keep a list of positive sayings. Whenever someone says something nice to you, write it down.
• Find fun ways to incorporate your inner cheerleader in your life. High five yourself, your friends, and your pets. Get small cheer pom pons to shake when you’ve had a win or at the end of a writing session. Wear a “team me” shirt!

For the Win

It takes time to develop an inner cheerleader. Be patient with yourself. And when you need a quick pick-me-up, tune into a sound bite of people cheering you on.

Write Now! Coach Rochelle Melander is an author and ADHD-trained professional certified coach. She’s helped hundreds of people write and publish books. If you’re struggling to start or finish a project, connect with Rochelle to create a personalized plan for overcoming procrastination, dealing with distraction, and staying focused. Book a private consultation: https://writenowcoach.com/consultation/