The way we talk to ourselves is important. What we say to ourselves all day long shapes what we believe about who we are, what we’re capable of, and how life works.

These critical beliefs are part of the bedrock of how you feel on a daily basis. If you believe that you’re a bad person with no capabilities in a hostile world, you’ll feel like shit a lot of the time. If you change some of those beliefs you’ll feel better more often. A change in what you believe can catalyze a change in how you feel.

A change in what you believe can also catalyze a change in how you act. If you believe that you can accomplish a goal then you are much more likely to try your hardest, and to persevere when things get tough. Encouraging beliefs support courageous action.